Jewish Clarksdale residents and other members of the community discussed their thoughts and feelings after a fire was set to Beth Israel Congregation in northeast Jackson on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 10.
Spencer Pittman, 19, a former Coahoma Community College baseball player and Madison resident, has been charged with arson for allegedly setting the congregation on fire.
A federal judge remanded Pittman into the custody of the United States Marshal’s Office. Pittman is expected to appear in court again next week for a preliminary hearing and detention hearing.
Pittman faces between a 5- and 20-year prison sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
A federal court document revealed Pittman confessed to the crime and referred to the building as the “synagogue of Satan.”
Jon Levingston, executive director of Crossroads Economic Partnership in Clarksdale, also known as the Chamber of Commerce, is Jewish.
Levingston previously served as president of the historic Beth Israel Congregation in Clarksdale during the 1990s. The Clarksdale synagogue, once a vibrant center of Jewish life in the Delta, closed in 2002 as the region’s Jewish population declined.
“As a human being, I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, any act of hatred or violence inflicted upon another person or group,” Levingston said. “As a Jew, I am deeply appalled by the act of arson committed against the historic and sacred Beth Israel Synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi.
“The Beth Israel congregation courageously championed civil rights and racial justice during the 1960s, standing in solidarity with Black citizens in their pursuit of equality. Because of this commitment, the synagogue was targeted by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 and destroyed by a firebomb. The congregation rebuilt then — and it will rebuild again now — in defiance of this latest cowardly act.
“I am profoundly grateful to the many elected officials and community leaders who have spoken out against this anti-Semitic crime. I am equally moved by the support extended by houses of worship across Jackson and beyond, whose generosity — both financial and spiritual — has brought comfort to the members of Beth Israel during this difficult time.”
Arnold Himelstein, also a member of the Jewish community in Clarksdale, said it was a tragedy when something like this happens in any religious congregation.
“Everybody suffers,” he said. “It’s more than just the one place. We’re fortunate no one was hurt, no one was killed. It was the second time the temple was destroyed.”
The first time came when the KKK targeted the synagogue in 1967 and Rabbi Perry Nussbaum’s home was firebombed, but no one was hurt.
“It makes me feel better,” said Himelstein about no one being injured. “Also, the person has been captured. It makes me feel better.”
Himelstein felt a personal connection to Beth Israel.
“The temple Beth Israel in Jackson has a lot of ties to Clarksdale,” he said. “I’ve got a couple cousins down there, some lifelong friends and lots of acquaintances.”
Himelstein appreciated the way the Jackson community has stepped up in response to the tragedy.
“Local churches have come forward and offered the temple space in their church to hold services and Sunday School,” he said. “I see that as a positive.”
Himelstein said he felt bad that Pittman’s father had to turn him into law enforcement officials after Pittman allegedly set fire to the synagogue.
Coahoma Community College President Dr. Valmadge Towner posted a statement on the school’s Facebook page.
“We are aware of an arson incident at the synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi involving an individual who was previously enrolled at Coahoma Community College,” Towner said. “This hate crime is being investigated by authorities.
“We condemn hate crimes and acts of violence in all forms. Such actions have no place in our society, and we believe the condemnation of hate crimes should be swift, public, and unified.”
The Press Register provided the community with opportunities to comment through Facebook.
“This is beyond heartbreaking,” said Greg Bowers, pastor of Oakhurst Baptist Church in Clarksdale. “It staggers the mind that such hatred exists.”
“The actions of one individual who attended Coahoma Community College do not in any way reflect on CCC,” said Mary Hagwood Mullins out of Clarksdale. “Pittman's alleged arson actions against the Jewish community in Jackson were his alone and have nothing to do with CCC. We all know that CCC would not in any way tolerate any hate talk or such behavior against others from any student attending classes there.”
“I didn't seriously think that Jewish hate was still a real thing, at least in Mississippi, not to sound naive, but hating Jews just sounds so last century,” said Chris Coffman out of Meridian. “This is like cowboys and Indians shenanigans and would almost make for a good comedy if it weren't true. How Jews even got on someone's radar is bizarre, frankly. Someone will be trying to burn a witch next. Perhaps demon possession is a real thing. Baseball and burning places of worship seem to mix about as well as mustard and fine wine. Who would have thought? I will be highly interested in any future press release regarding anything discovered about the nature of this crime.”
