AUSTIN, Texas — Two years ago, a man set fire to the front doors of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in northwest Austin. Now, the community is coming together to reflect.
A gathering will be held at the synagogue on Shoal Creek Boulevard at 6 p.m. Wednesday. At the event, synagogue leaders will share resources to improve their response to hate of all kinds. Among those involved in the event is Councilmember Alison Alter (District 10), who is a member of the synagogue.
Those who wish to attend the event can RSVP online.
In August, Congregation Beth Israel held its first service inside the renovated space following the Oct. 31, 2021, arson.
The suspect charged in the arson attack, Franklin Sechriest, pleaded guilty to an arson charge and a hate crime charge in April of this year. His sentencing hearing is set for Nov. 29, and he faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a report in September that outlined a growth of anti-Semitic incidents perpetrated by Texans. The ADL found an 89% increase in anti-Semitic incidents since 2021.
When it comes to incidents in Austin, the numbers are similar. There were 44 anti-Semitic incidents in 2021, compared to eight the year before.