Jackson, MS – Some broken windows and a word carved in the door of the Beth Israel Temple are being investigated as felony malicious mischief — a hate crime — according to authorities.
Jackson Police Department spokeswoman Colendula Green said officers thought they were going to a shooting at first.
“It was a shooting call when officers responded. Then on the right door, that’s when they saw the ‘J-E-W’ carved into the door,” she said.
The hole in the glass next to the front doors looks like it could be a bullet hole, but Green said investigators have not found any other evidence of gunshots.
Because it’s a hate crime, the FBI has been called in on the investigation, Green said.
Rabbi Valerie Cohen said it’s the first time in the 10 years that she’s been with the Beth Israel Temple that there has been any negative showing toward their temple.
“As far as I know there hasn’t been any incident since maybe the temple bombing related to civil rights in 1967,” she said.
But even with the commotion earlier in the morning, Cohen said it was business as usual for the Beth Israel preschool on the premises.
Thursday is also the second day of Shavuot, a Jewish holiday that celebrates the receiving of the Ten Commandments. “It signifies the day in the Bible when we actually became Jewish, so to speak,” Cohen said.
Services continued in spite of the noise of replacing some of the broken window panes, she said.
“The sound of our voices praying was drowning out the sound of them replacing the glass,” Cohen said.
Meanwhile, one hole remains in a window of Beth Israel, a window that has to be specially ordered before it can be replaced.
To the right of that hole, a large, hand-painted sign stating “Tomorrow is Grown Up Day” is stuck to the door.
It’s hiding the word that was etched into the door, a stain that Cohen said will be painted over very soon.
“I’m pretty sure it’s an isolated incident,” Cohen said.
“Jews in our congregation are very involved in the Jackson community, and an integral part of what’s here. We do a lot of interfaith things, and we’re well-loved in the community.”
Green said investigators are looking into whether there are surveillance tapes, and they are asking for help from the public.
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