Firebug Sets 13 Mezuzos on Fire in Williamsburg

On a day when the world remembered the millions who died in the Holocaust, a dozen Jewish residents of a Brooklyn apartment building had religious objects torched by a hate-filled vandal.

Police sources said the incidents Monday at the Taylor-Wythe Houses in Williamsburg are being investigated as a possible hate crime.

The alleged firebug targeted mezuzahs — pieces of parchment paper inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah that are enclosed in small, often ornate canisters. They are attached to a home’s front door to fulfill the Biblical commandment to display the central prayer of Judaism outside one’s home.

Orthodox Jewish residents of the Taylor-Wythe Houses found the scorched remains of their religious objects around 4:45 p.m. Monday, as they were observing Holocaust Remembrance Day, police sources and neighbors said.

“Why would somebody do this in broad daylight?” said one woman who lives on the sixth floor of the public housing building, which is home to dozens of Hassidic families. “It seems very vicious.”

The alleged firebug started on the 13th floor of the building and worked his way down, lighting numerous mezuzahs ablaze along the way, police sources said.

Miriam Schwartz, who has lived on the third floor of the building for 40 years, said this was the second time she had her mezuzah burned. It had also been stolen once in the past.

“This has to be stopped,” said Schwartz, 75. “I’m always scared.”

About 20 cops from the 90th Precinct Station house were canvassing the area, searching for the suspect.

There were no arrests. An NYPD spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing.