Stephen Pittman<\/a>, 19, confessed to lighting a fire inside the building, which he referred to as \u201cthe synagogue of Satan,\u201d according to an FBI affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Mississippi on Monday. <\/p>\nHe was charged with maliciously damaging or destroying a building by means of fire or an explosive. He is also facing a similar state charge of first-degree arson of a place of worship. <\/p>\n
Neither of the two public defenders representing Pittman have addressed the charges, nor have they returned The Associated Press’ requests for comment. <\/p>\n
Geiger Bonnheim, who now lives in Dallas, remains an active member of the congregation. She is also on the board of the Goldring\/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, a nonprofit that celebrates Jewish life in the South and is based out of the Beth Israel Congregation building. <\/p>\n
She recalls visiting the synagogue with her father the night it was bombed in 1967, calling the sight horrific. At the time, her father was vice president of the congregation, which had just moved into the building, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a Hebrew saying, \u2018l\u2019dor v\u2019dor,\u2019 from generation to generation,\u201d she said. \u201cThe 1967 (bombing) and dealing with the Klan, that was my generation\u2019s and my parent\u2019s generation\u2019s dealing with bigotry and hatred. Unfortunately now it\u2019s this generation\u2019s time to have to deal with those very issues.\u201d <\/p>\n
Geiger Bonnheim said the news of the arson was depressing but not surprising. Jewish people have been persecuted for more than 3,000 years, she said.<\/p>\n
Benjamin Russell, the spiritual leader of Beth Israel Congregation who is going to school to become a Rabi, said recovering from hardship is part of the Jewish psyche. He said the Torah is filled with examples of people being reborn through hardship.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the ashes, something beautiful will rise,” Russell said. <\/p>\n
Zach Shemper, the congregation\u2019s president, has vowed to rebuild. Already, nearby churches are opening their doors, offering to let the congregation worship inside. Other synagogues have offered the Beth Israel Congregation new Torahs. <\/p>\n
The fire has not interrupted the congregation\u2019s programs, and they plan to gather Friday night to observe Shabbat, a weekly day of rest. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still here, and we\u2019re not going anywhere,\u201d Shemper said. <\/p>\n
While the congregation has shown resilience, their anger and sadness is palpable. <\/p>\n
Abram Orlansky, a congregant and former Beth Israel Congregation president, broke down when he thought about his two children and the role the synagogue plays in their lives. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe told our kids the truth \u2014 that someone did this on purpose, and it’s because they don’t like the Jewish people,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
At the same time, Orlansky said seeing the outpouring of support from the Jackson community and the worldwide Jewish community has been heartening, and his kids are excited to be a part of showing the world that their community isn’t going anywhere. <\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
LaFleur contributed to this report from Dallas, Texas. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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