How an ‘all-American boy’ became a synagogue arson suspect

 2025 ended with the Hanukkah massacre on Bondi Beach. 2026 started with the burning of the synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi. The Australia attack was done by Muslims angry about the Israel-Hamas War. The arson suspect is an “all-American boy” educated in Catholic school, radicalized by internet antisemites.

We must be alert and vigilant, especially in our Christian communities, that antisemitic thought does not slither in.

These headlines are presented as a snapshot of what our Jewish neighbors are thinking and feeling and to provide data as you pray about these issues.

CMJ USA does not necessarily agree with the opinions expressed in these articles.

🔥How an ‘all-American boy’ became a Mississippi synagogue arson suspect (Forward)

There was little warning that Stephen Spencer Pittman, who police arrested for arson, was poised to strike Jackson’s lone synagogue

• Synagogue arson suspect posted satirical antisemitic cartoon on day of the attack (Forward) What we know about Stephen Spencer Pittman, who faces federal charges for the attack on Beth Israel Congregation
  
  
• Deborah Lipstadt has second thoughts about tying Jackson synagogue arsonist to ‘Globalize the Intifada’ (JTA) By prematurely suggesting that an arson attack was linked to pro-Palestinian activism, the former antisemitism envoy highlighted the broader challenge of confronting bigotry from across the ideological spectrum.
  
  
• The Holocaust Torah that survived a Mississippi synagogue fire was brought there by the state’s only survivor (Forward) Gilbert Metz, the state’s only Holocaust survivor, brought the Torah to Beth Israel decades ago
  
  
• After synagogue arson, Jackson’s Jews find solidarity, and complexity, at interfaith prayer service (JTA) “We live in the buckle of the Bible Belt,” said Beth israel Congregation’s leader. “We just have to be grateful for the support that we’re receiving.”

🚓Suspects arrested for painting swastikas on Brooklyn playground two days in a row (Forward)

Vandals targeted Gravesend Park with dozens of swastikas

🎄Jewish caricature in Ukrainian Christmas tradition resurfaces at New Jersey church, drawing criticism (JTA)

The pageant at St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Clifton is known as a vertep — and the “zhyd” who opposes Jesus is a core character.

• NJ church deletes video of pageant featuring antisemitic character but says critics took it ‘out of context’ (JTA) The Anti-Defamation League said St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church had not responded to its outreach.

📝The Jewish Test (Tablet)

 History has already run the experiment that Tucker Carlson and his friends are urging upon us. The results are not favorable for America

⚠️Antisemitism is permeating everyday life (Washington Post)

Jewish people know what it means when threats are tolerated until they become irreversible.

🎶Nick Fuentes, Andrew Tate and other right-wing influencers filmed singing Ye’s ‘Heil Hitler’ at Miami nightclub (JTA)

The nightclub, Vendome, has apologized for the incident.

• Ye apologizes for his antisemitism in Wall Street Journal ad: ‘I lost touch with reality’ (JTA) The apology follows an earlier conversation with an Orthodox rabbi.
• Nick Fuentes says his problem with Trump ‘is that he is not Hitler’ (JTA) Fuentes’ comments came a few days after Trump said he doesn’t approve of antisemites in the Republican Party.

🚫No Communion for Candace Owens (Times of Israel)

How can the Church let a public figure who professes to be Catholic spread the vile, antisemitic tropes that Catholicism disavowed decades ago?

Editor’s note: The writer’s opinions are his own and do not reflect any CMJ opinion or position. I share this piece to show how our Jewish neighbors are watching us and understand the dissonance of professing faith in Jesus and antisemitic speech. His perspective should cause us to think deeply about what it means to obey Jesus to eat and drink of him – a Jewish man, Messiah of Israel – and how we as his followers should speak about and treat Jewish people, his brothers according to the flesh.

✡️For 250 years, American Jews have answered prejudice with defiance (Forward)

Starting with the Revolution, writes a historian, Jews publicly rebutted wartime slander and asserted their place in the American story.

🫱🏽‍🫲🏽American Jews can’t agree about anything — except Iran (Forward)

American Jews have rallied behind Iranian protesters in a rare show of solidarity, anti-Zionists and Israel hawks alike

• Why do they march for Gaza, but not Iran? (JTA) The movement that turned out en masse to demonize the State of Israel for defending itself is uninterested in the slaughter of Iranians. Maybe it’s because they can’t blame it on the Jews.

🗣️The Anti-Zionism Versus Antisemitism Debate (Jewish Journal)

Because they often claim to oppose only “Zionists” and not “Jews,” anti-Zionists can evade accusations of antisemitism while still harassing Jews at synagogues and in Jewish neighborhoods.

🗽Why New York’s Sephardic Jews are more Zionist — and more wary of Mamdani — than their Ashkenazi neighbors (Forward)

Different histories of exile and migration help explain why some Jews view Mayor Mamdani differently

✡️From Alfred Dreyfus to Josh Shapiro: How the ‘dual loyalty’ charge shadows Jewish public life (JTA)

A historic antisemitic accusation collides with modern Jewish attachment to Israel.

🍽️Oct. 7 spurred this secular private school in Manhattan to start holding an annual Shabbat gathering (JTA)

The Town School’s head of school is also the vice president at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue.

👶🏻A Jewish baby became the face of Nazi Aryan propaganda. Her life story outlasted the lie. (JTA)

“I feel a sense of revenge,” said Hessy Levinsons Taft, who died Jan. 1 at 91.

🎞️King David is having a moment in Christian pop culture. We would do well to join in.

The rabbi author of a book on David says the ancient Israelite king’s time is now.