Suspect questioned for burning Jewish mezuzahs

Police have in custody a Brooklyn man suspected of burning Jewish mezuzahs in Williamsburg this week.

Rubin Ublies, 35, was picked up yesterday morning by police for questioning regarding a dozen Jewish religious ornaments that were torched. Police said 11 mezuzahs were vandalized inside a Williamsburg building on Monday at 3:30 p.m. Then, the suspected arsonist damaged a mezuzah in a second building nearby on Tuesday afternoon.

Ublies has a lengthy rap sheet, police said. He has been arrested 52 times that range from drugs, robbery, assaults, and grand larceny.

Councilman Steve Levin of Brooklyn praised police for picking up the arson suspect.

"Williamsburg will not tolerate hate, Brooklyn will not tolerate hate, and New York City will not tolerate hate," said Councilman Steve Levin of Brooklyn.

Police are investigating the arsons, which were committed around Holocaust Remembrance Day, as a possible hate crime. Mezuzahs are scrolls inscribed with passages from the Torah contained in small cases affixed to front doors.

(Dan Rivoli)