A 31-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a suspected arson attack on a Chabad Jewish center in Charlotte County, Florida, just days before Rosh Hashanah, authorities said on Tuesday in a case they are investigating as a serious hate crime.
According to the Punta Gorda Police Department, Blake Richard Hoover was taken into custody Tuesday following the fire, which broke out late Friday night in the children’s classroom of the Chabad center. The blaze caused significant damage, including broken glass, charred furniture and a spray-painted letter “J” on the walls and facade of the building.
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Fire trucks outside the Chabad center over the weekend
(Photo: Punta Gorda Police Department)
Emergency responders were called to the scene around 11 p.m., and the site was immediately designated a crime scene by responding officers. Rabbi Simon Jacobson, the center’s director, said he was initially unsure of the cause of the fire.
Evidence collected at the scene included gasoline remnants believed to have been poured through a broken window to ignite the classroom, pointing to a premeditated attack. Despite the damage, Rabbi Jacobson stressed that the synagogue’s High Holiday services would continue as planned. “We know that this is an act of darkness, and we're focusing on trying to fix this darkness by making more light,” he said.
The Chabad center, which once served as a public library, has become a vibrant hub for the local Jewish community. It held holiday prayers and a communal meal as scheduled on the eve of Rosh Hashanah.
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Local police are calling the incident a 'hate crime'
(Photo: Chabad of Charlotte County)
The fire drew immediate support from local residents, with neighbors arriving at the scene to express solidarity. Theo Kiselev, a neighbor, told local media the attack stirred traumatic memories. “It honestly made me sick to my stomach. I'm shaking right now as I see it in person,” he said. “You know, just like 80 years ago, they're trying to ridicule us, but all I can say is that 80 years ago, we survived this and will survive it.” Another neighbor offered a $500 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
The nearby Church of the Good Shepherd also expressed support, with the pastor describing the arson as “very alarming,” especially so close to home. The Anti-Defamation League and the local Jewish Federation condemned the attack and urged increased security around houses of worship during the holiday season.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Jewish Federation reported a major cyberattack that compromised personal data for tens of thousands of members. Hackers accessed names, Social Security numbers, bank account details, medical information, and other sensitive data, temporarily disabling the federation’s systems.
The breach has sparked alarm in Jewish communities across Pennsylvania and beyond. Attorneys are reportedly preparing class-action lawsuits against the federation. Community leaders warned that the dual threat of physical violence — like the Florida arson — and cyberattacks underscores the urgent need for both digital and physical security investments in Jewish institutions.
The Florida arson and the Pennsylvania cyberattack are among the most serious incidents targeting Jewish communities in recent years.