Arson Fires At Needham Synagogue, Arlington Rabbi's Home: PD

NEEDHAM, MA — State Police and the State Fire Marshall's office confirmed arson was the cause of two fires Thursday night, one at a Needham Jewish community center, and another at a rabbi's home in Arlington. Around 10 p.m., police and fire officials were called to the Chabad Jewish Center on High Rock Street in Needham.

The fire on the lattice and vinyl siding of the house was quickly extinguished by the caller before firefighters arrived. The caller told police he believed that the fire was set intentionally, which state authorities have since confirmed. Needham police said there were no threats made and no graffiti on the home, but police are investigating the fire as a hate crime.

Emergency crews were also called to Rabbi Avi Bukiet's Lake Street in Arlington around 9 p.m. Thursday. A police officer on patrol found "light flames" coming from one side of the house and used a handheld extinguisher to put the fire out, police said.

This was the second fire reported this month at the rabbi's home. The first fire was reported Saturday, May 11 at 11 p.m. The rabbi holds religious services at his house.

"Every arson fire causes fear and anxiety in the community, but one in a house of worship more so because of the possibility a group was targeted for violence," State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said in a statement.

Needham and Arlington police are investigating if a fire at an Arlington Rabbi's house Thursday is connected, but cannot confirm that they are at this time. Arlington police have surveilliance video showing one suspect leaving Rabbi Avi Bukiet's home from the first fire, however none is available from Thursday evening's fire.

State Police said there have been 21 arson fires in houses of worship since over the last decade. One of the most notorious happened in Springfield, the night Barack Obama was elected President. The Church of the Macedonia God in Christ was a storefront church attended mostly by African Americans. Eventually three youths were arrested and charged with setting the fire. Several faiths have been targeted in attacked over the last decade including fires at Jewish synagogues, Christian churches, Hindu temples and Muslin mosques.

"There is no arson fire that tears at the fabric of a community more than one involving a house of worship," Reverend James Tilbe, chief chaplain of the Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains said. "These are sacred spaces where people connect to their God and to each other."

Patch Reporter Alex Newman contributed to this story.