Arson Attack on Mississippi’s Historic Synagogue Exposes Persistent Threats to Religious Freedom

In the heart of Jackson, Mississippi, a city where Jewish life has always been a delicate thread in a complex social fabric, an arson attack on Beth Israel Congregation forces Americans to confront an uncomfortable truth: even decades after the civil rights era, hate-fueled violence remains a threat to our national values of freedom and religious liberty. Why Does Hate Target America’s Smallest Communities? With fewer than a few hundred members, the Beth Israel Congregation is more than just a place of worship—it is a beacon of resilience for a minority community that has survived intimidation by violent racist groups...