mezuzah

After extensive questioning, police have charged Ruben Ubiles, 34, of Bedford-Stuyvesant with burglary, arson and criminal mischief as felony hate crimes, as well as reckless damage and reckless endangerment, reports said Friday.

The New York Times said Ubiles had a prior arrest record for robbery, assault and drug possession.

Ubiles was apprehended by police based on surveillance footage at a Williamsburg housing project where a mezuzah was burned on Tuesday. According to some reports Ubiles posted on Facebook that he was annoyed about Jews setting fires on streetcorners, apparently referring to chasidim burning chametz before Passover.

On Thursday Ubiles was charged with an unrelated crime, criminal contempt in connection with a violation of a court order of protection obtained by his girlfriend, Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne told The Jewish Week. 

Judaism offers much wisdom to help people in our communities cultivate the resilience to recover from the aftereffects of Sandy, a storm that created a unique situation affecting an estimated 54 million people in 24 states.