Suspect Confesses to Arson at Mississippi’s Beth Israel Synagogue, Citing ‘Jewish Ties’ in Hate-Fueled Attack
Jackson, Mississippi – A man has confessed to setting fire to Beth Israel Congregation, the only synagogue in Jackson and Mississippi’s largest Jewish house of worship, in what federal authorities describe as a deliberate act motivated by the building’s “Jewish ties.” The arson attack early Saturday morning left the synagogue’s library and lobby in charred ruins, destroying sacred Torah scrolls and evoking painful memories of past hate crimes against the congregation.
Stephen Spencer Pittman, the suspect identified by the FBI, was arrested over the weekend at a hospital where he was being treated for burns on his ankles, hands, and face. According to an FBI affidavit, Pittman’s own father turned him in after the suspect bragged about the blaze, allegedly laughing and telling his father, “he finally got them,” while referring to the synagogue as the “synagogue of Satan.”[3]
Pittman reportedly sent text messages to his father boasting, “due for a homerun” and “I did my research,” before confessing directly to investigators that he targeted the building because of its Jewish affiliations. Security footage captured a hooded, masked figure dumping gasoline inside the synagogue and igniting it with a torch lighter after breaking a window. The fire ravaged the library and administrative areas, rendering the facility inoperable indefinitely.[1][2][3]
Confession and Arrest Details Emerge
Federal charges were filed against Pittman on Monday, January 12, 2026, by the U.S. Department of Justice. The affidavit details how Pittman removed his license plate, purchased gasoline, and executed the predawn assault around 4 a.m. on January 10. He admitted to agents from the FBI, Jackson Fire Department, and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office that he “caught himself on fire during the act.”[3][6]
The suspect’s father contacted authorities after confronting Pittman and noticing his injuries. Video evidence released by the synagogue shows the arsonist in action, corroborating the confession. “Pittman was identified as a person of interest and ultimately confessed to lighting a fire inside the building due to the building’s Jewish ties,” the affidavit states.[3]
Devastation to Sacred Site
Beth Israel, a hub of Jewish life in Mississippi, suffered extensive damage. Two Torah scrolls were destroyed, five others damaged, but one Holocaust-rescued scroll remained intact – a poignant symbol amid the destruction. The attack occurred as Jews worldwide prepared to read the Torah portion about the burning bush, a story of fire as revelation rather than ruin.[1][5]
Rabbi David Spratt of Rodeph Sholom synagogue reflected on the incident in a message, noting, “The arson of a synagogue is never only a crime against property. It is a philosophical claim enacted through violence, that this life, this memory, this people are removable.” He highlighted the loss of Torahs as carriers of generational memory.[5]
Echoes of Historical Antisemitism
This is not the first time Beth Israel has been targeted. In September 1967, the Ku Klux Klan firebombed the synagogue in retaliation for its support of civil rights activism. No one was killed then, but the attack underscored bigotry’s aim at moral witnesses. The congregation’s resilience became part of its identity.[4][5]
“Though no one was killed, this attack reminded the city that bigotry often lashes out where moral witness is strongest.”
– Rabbi David Spratt, Rodeph Sholom[5]
Community Response and Investigation
The Jewish community has condemned the attack as a “deliberate attack on Jews,” drawing widespread outrage. CBS Evening News reported new details, including the suspect’s confession obtained by the FBI. Mississippi Today described the scene: parts of the synagogue left in charred ruins.[1][2]
Investigators continue to probe Pittman’s motives and background. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal partners emphasize the hate crime element, with the DOJ announcing the arrest in connection to both Beth Israel and the adjacent Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life.[6]
Broader Context of Rising Antisemitism
This incident unfolds against a backdrop of increasing antisemitic incidents nationwide. Synagogues have faced threats, vandalism, and violence amid heightened tensions. Beth Israel’s history of endurance – from Klan bombings to modern arson – symbolizes Jewish perseverance in the Deep South.
Local leaders and national Jewish organizations have rallied support, pledging funds for rebuilding. As cleanup begins, the community vows not to be erased. “Some fires erase. Some expose,” Rabbi Spratt wrote. “Not all fires are the same.”[5]
Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the FBI tip line. Pittman faces federal arson charges, with potential hate crime enhancements. The path to justice and restoration for Beth Israel has just begun.