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H. R. No. 76 *HR26/R2191* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative McLean
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 76
A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE ARSON ATTACK UPON BETH ISRAEL 1
CONGREGATION ON JANUARY 10, 2026. 2
WHEREAS, the Mississippi House of Representatives strongly 3
condemns the hateful attack directed at the Beth Israel 4
Congregation on January 10, 2026, and while this arson attack on 5
the historic synagogue in our Capital City was apparently an act 6
of hate performed by one individual, it is yet another instance of 7
antisemitic behavior that has been festering across the country 8
and across the world; and 9
WHEREAS, the Beth Israel Congregation was founded in 1860, 10
and soon after they purchased land for a cemetery on North State 11
Street, and by the end of 1862, 15 Jewish families lived in town; 12
and 13
WHEREAS, after the Civil War, the congregation acquired land 14
and built a modest wood frame schoolhouse, which they also used as 15
a worship space, on the corner of South State and South streets, 16
and this was the first synagogue in Mississippi; and 17
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WHEREAS, in 1870, the congregation hired its first rabbi, L. 18
Winter, who began to move the congregation towards Reform Judaism 19
with English sermons, services on Friday nights, and the 20
confirmation ceremony, and though Rabbi Winter soon left, in 1875, 21
Beth Israel formalized its adherence to Reform Judaism by joining 22
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; and 23
WHEREAS, when the congregation's wood frame building burned 24
down in 1874, they built a new brick building on the old site, 25
which served the congregation until 1940, and when the 26
congregation moved to Woodrow Wilson Avenue in 1941, their 27
synagogue was the oldest religious structure in the city, and 28
while their new synagogue was being built, Beth Israel held 29
services at Galloway Methodist Church; and 30
WHEREAS, during its first 70 years, the congregation often 31
went through long stretches without a full-time rabbi, relying on 32
lay leaders and student rabbis, and in 1929, Beth Israel finally 33
began to enjoy more stability in its rabbis with the arrival of 34
Meyer Lovitt, who served the congregation for 25 years; and 35
WHEREAS, Rabbi Lovitt was replaced in 1954 by Toronto-native 36
Perry Nussbaum, who became an outspoken voice against racism and 37
segregation, but September 18, 1967, Beth Israel's new temple on 38
Old Canton Road was bombed by local Ku Klux Klan members, and two 39
months later, the same group bombed Rabbi Nussbaum's home, and 40
though he was home with his wife at the time, no one was seriously 41
hurt; and 42
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WHEREAS, these bombings helped to galvanize the Jackson 43
community, and since then, members of Beth Israel have played a 44
vital part in building a more racially just society in Jackson; 45
and 46
WHEREAS, in 1967, Beth Israel moved to its present home on 47
Old Canton Road, and since Rabbi Nussbaum's retirement in 1973, 48
the following rabbis have served the congregation: Richard 49
Birnholz, Mark Goodman, Eric Gurvis, Steven Engel, Jim Egolf, 50
Valerie Cohen, Ted Riter, Stephen Wylen, Jeffrey Kurtz-Linder and 51
Joseph Rosen, and Rabbi Eric Gurvis returned to serve the 52
congregation as an interim in 2024 and 2025, and in July 2025, 53
Benjamin Russell became the spiritual leader while as a student 54
rabbi; and 55
WHEREAS, Jackson's Beth Israel Congregation has always been 56
the only synagogue in Mississippi's capital city, and as a result, 57
it has accommodated members from different religious backgrounds 58
and practices, and for most of its history, the congregation has 59
been rather small, though in recent decades it has emerged as the 60
largest and most vibrant synagogue in the state; and 61
WHEREAS, we ask all Mississippians to stand with us, loudly 62
and clearly rejecting antisemitism in all forms, as Mississippi's 63
future will not be tainted by intolerance; and 64
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 65
stand firmly with the Jewish community, and we hope justice is 66
both swift and strong to send a message that the attack on Beth 67
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ST: Beth Israel Congregation; condemn arson
attack upon.
Israel Congregation on January 10, 2026, will not be tolerated in 68
Mississippi: 69
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 70
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 71
condemn the arson attack upon Beth Israel Congregation on January 72
10, 2026. 73
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 74
furnished to Beth Israel Congregation and to the members of the 75
Capitol Press Corps. 76