(PHOTOS & VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Police are investigating anti-Semitism as the cause of a fire on board a mini school bus in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

The converted mini-yellow school bus is owned by Jewish artist Leviticus Schieber, and was painted over with Jewish imagery, including a Torah and menorah. It was recently featured in the popular music video of Benny Friedman’s hit song �Ivri Anochi.”

The ‘Mitzvah bus’ was parked near the corner of Troy Avenue and Maple Street in Crown Heights, when the arsonist apparently broke its windows and torched the vehicle�s interior sometime around midnight early Monday. Surveillance footage from the scene shows a man standing near the burned-out bus before and after the blaze.

‘Leviticus,’ who uses the bus as both a means of transportation for his family, as well as a source of Jewish pride�for the community, didn’t believe someone would target his bus. �My first instinct was that it was targeted for some reason, maybe just because it�s a funny-looking bus,� he said. �But it�s obviously the only bus on this block that�s destroyed.�

Schieber frequently parked his bus on the street and had no concerns doing so, but he said he did find one of its tires slashed about a year and a half ago.

Community leaders, artists and elected officials are holding a rally today (Tuesday, June 27th) in support of Leviticus and against hate. It will take place at Troy Avenue and Maple Street at 3:30PM.

Benny Friedman, who is set to perform, called on the community to show support for Leviticus. “My friend Leviticus drives a ‘Mitzvah mobile,’ a vehicle that just from its look alone adds joy and excitement to people’s day. He has dedicated his life to spreading the message that hate and darkness don’t have a chance. Let us support him during this difficult time ” Friedman said.

(Nat Golden – YWN)