Stephen Spencer Pittman, a 19-year-old man, has been arrested for committing arson at Beth Israel Congregation, the oldest and largest synagogue in Mississippi, in a shocking act of antisemitism.
Hours before the fire, Pittman posted an antisemitic meme on social media and later confessed to the crime to his father, who alerted authorities.
The devastating blaze, witnessed on surveillance footage, saw Pittman pouring gasoline inside the synagogue before igniting it, resulting in significant destruction, including the loss of several Torah scrolls.
This incident ignites painful memories of the synagogue's history, which was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967, highlighting ongoing tensions and challenges facing the local Jewish community.
The FBI has classified the attack as a hate crime, reflecting a troubling trend of rising antisemitism targeting not just individuals but community institutions.
Local leaders are rallying in support of the congregation, vowing to rebuild the synagogue and stand resilient against the forces of hate, as discussions about radicalization and the societal implications of such violence intensify.

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