(JEWISH GROUP) Fire destroys Jackson, Mississippi's only synagogue, suspect arrested
A fire tore through Beth Israel, the only synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, on Saturday, leaving the congregation forced to rebuild from the ashes — again.
Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the fire, which remains under investigation, but it comes amid a wave of antisemitic attacks in recent years.
The fire occurred around 3 a.m., according to Jackson Mayor John Horhn. “The Jackson Fire Department responded quickly, contained the blaze and extinguished the fire,” Horhn said.
This isn’t the first time the synagogue has burned. On September 18, 1967, Beth Israel’s temple was bombed by local Ku Klux Klan members, in part because of the congregation’s work in the civil rights movement, according to the synagogue’s website.
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Pictures from Mississippi Today article
This photo shows damage to the Beth Israel Congregation synagogue library from a fire that occurred hours earlier on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Jackson. Credit: Courtesy of Beth Israel Congregation
Fire heavily damaged the Beth Israel Congregation synagogue in Jackson, including this lobby, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Credit: Courtesy of Beth Israel Congregation
This photo shows damage to the exterior of Beth Israel Congregation synagogue library from a fire that occurred hours earlier on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Jackson. Credit: Courtesy of Beth Israel Congregation
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