Jewish ‘mitzvah’ bus set ablaze

A multicolored “mitzvah” minibus that was adored by kids and other residents in a Jewish enclave of Brooklyn was torched Monday, and cops are investigating it as a possible hate crime.

The bus (right) had been parked near the corner of Troy Avenue and Maple Street in East Flatbush when the arsonist apparently broke its windows and set the vehicle’s interior ablaze sometime around midnight.

Surveillance footage showed a man standing near the bus before and after the fire, according to police sources.

Dubbed the “mitzvah” bus by locals, the vehicle was created by Crown Heights artist Leviticus Schieber roughly a year and a half ago to make Jewish residents proud of their heritage.

It quickly became a staple in the community, thanks to its religious imagery and vibrant colors.

“It was a creative project and represented creative expression and the freedom to be yourself — a sort of good-vibe vehicle that you didn’t see every day,” Schieber told The Post.

“When we drove around, it made the kids smile and gave people a feeling of Jewish pride.”

Schieber often drove his two kids to school in the bus, and also used it as an art studio for his portrait business. The cruising canvas has appeared at local events and parades — even popping up in a music video for popular singer Benny Friedman earlier this year.