JACKSON, Mississippi – The individual suspected of setting fire to a historic synagogue in Mississippi admitted to choosing this location specifically due to its “Jewish ties.” Authorities were alerted by the suspect’s father, who noticed burn marks on his son’s body, according to an FBI announcement made on Monday.
Stephen Pittman faces charges of intentionally damaging or destroying property through fire or explosives. He reportedly confessed to igniting the blaze at what he referred to as the “Synagogue of Satan,” as stated in an FBI affidavit submitted to the U.S. District Court in Mississippi.
No attorney for Pittman was listed in the court documents.
The fire impacted Congregation Beth Israel in Jackson around 3 a.m. Saturday. Fortunately, there were no injuries among participants or firefighters. Security footage released by the synagogue depicted a masked man pouring liquid onto the lobby floor and couches using a gas can. Remarkably, this synagogue was previously bombed over 50 years ago by the Ku Klux Klan, following the rabbi’s support for civil rights.
The fire caused significant damage to the synagogue’s library and administrative offices. The five Torah scrolls within the sanctuary were being assessed for smoke exposure, with two scrolls from the heavily damaged library being destroyed. One of the Torahs, which had survived the Holocaust, remained intact behind glass.
Pittman’s father reported to the FBI that his son had confessed to setting the fire. He mentioned that Pittman texted him a photo of the back of the synagogue prior to the incident and claimed there was a hearth located there. Despite his father’s pleas to return home, Pittman allegedly replied that he was determined to achieve something significant and had “done his research,” according to the affidavit.
Pittman informed investigators that he stopped to purchase gas at a service station before heading to the synagogue. He also took off the vehicle’s license plate. Using an ax, he broke a window, poured gas inside, and ignited it with a torch lighter, as detailed in the FBI affidavit.
Authorities later found a burnt cell phone believed to belong to Pittman and also seized a hand torch located by a congregant.
On Monday, police tape cordoned off the synagogue entrance, while the surrounding area was littered with broken glass and soot. A bouquet of flowers and a note that read, “I am truly sorry,” were placed at the entrance.
Congregation President Zach Shemper expressed a commitment to rebuilding the synagogue, noting that various churches had offered them space to hold services during the reconstruction.
Despite the small population of the community, which numbers only a few hundred, members of Beth Israel have taken pride in maintaining their heritage in Mississippi’s capital. The congregation represents almost every aspect of Jewish life in Jackson, housing not just the synagogue but also the Jewish Federation, a nonprofit dedicated to social services and philanthropy, serving as a hub for Jewish institutional life in the area. This building also hosts the Southern Institute of Jewish Life, which supports Jewish communities across 13 states. Additionally, the Holocaust Memorial is situated on the grounds behind the synagogue.
Jewish children from various parts of the South have participated in summer camps in Utica, Mississippi, for decades, fostering strong connections to the local Jewish community.
Rabbi Gary Zola, an American Jewish historian, remarked on the significance of Jackson and its synagogue, calling it the “capital synagogue of the state of Mississippi” and describing it as a flagship institution, contrasting it with larger cities like New York or Los Angeles.
Founded in 1860, Beth Israel secured its first land and became Mississippi’s first synagogue following the Civil War. In 1967, the synagogue relocated to its current site, only to be bombed shortly after by local KKK members. Another attack targeted the home of Rabbi Perry Nussbaum, who faced backlash for his vocal opposition to racism.
Throughout a time when speaking out against segregation posed hazards in the Deep South, many within the congregation urged Nussbaum to remain silent. However, he remained firm in his belief in advocating for civil rights, as noted by Zola.
“He had a very strong sense of justice,” Zola remarked.
