JACKSON, Miss. — Following the arson atack on Beth Israel Congregation on Saturday, Senator
Rod Hickman and Representative Justis Gibbs, co-chairs of the Mississippi Future Caucus,
issued the following joint statement:
“We strongly condemn the antisemitic arson that damaged Beth Israel Congregation early
Saturday morning. Founded in 1860, Beth Israel—the only synagogue in Jackson—has long been
a cornerstone of the city’s Jewish community and a quiet but powerful force for civil rights in
Mississippi. The synagogue has endured violence before, including a 1967 Ku Klux Klan
bombing tied to its rabbi’s outspoken support for racial equality, yet it has continued to stand
as a place of faith, courage, and moral leadership.
“As people of faith ourselves, this atack hits close to home. A house of worship should always
be a place of safety, reflection, and community, not fear. We are heartbroken for the Beth
Israel congregation and stand with our Jewish neighbors across the state. At a time of rising
antisemitism and deep partisan division, leaders and communities must come together across
lines of difference to reject hate and defend the freedom of every person to worship without
fear. Hate has no place in Mississippi. We are grateful to law enforcement for identifying a
suspect and expect full accountability for this heinous act.”
