Jackson, Mississippi — Federal authorities say a 19-year-old man deliberately set fire to a historic synagogue in Jackson because it is a Jewish house of worship, marking one of the most serious antisemitic attacks in the region in decades.
Stephen Spencer Pittman was charged Monday with maliciously damaging a building by fire after a blaze ripped through Beth Israel Congregation shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the FBI. In a sworn affidavit, investigators said Pittman admitted targeting the synagogue because of its Jewish identity and later confessed to his father, who contacted authorities after noticing burn marks on his son’s body.
Security footage released by the congregation shows a masked individual pouring gasoline inside the synagogue’s lobby before igniting the fire with a torch lighter. Investigators said Pittman removed his vehicle’s license plate beforehand, broke a window with an ax, and used a gas can purchased shortly before the attack. A burned cellphone and hand torch were later recovered at the scene.
The fire caused extensive damage to the synagogue’s library and administrative offices. Two Torah scrolls were destroyed, while five others suffered smoke damage. One Torah that survived the Holocaust was protected behind glass and was not harmed.
Beth Israel Congregation, founded in 1860, was previously bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967. The building also houses the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, which serves Jewish communities across 13 southern states. Federal officials say Pittman could face five to 20 years in prison if convicted. Attorney General Pam Bondi has instructed prosecutors to seek severe penalties.
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