A Truman Avenue man was severely burned Sunday in an early morning arson attack that police linked to a simmering religious feud in the Hasidic village.

Ramapo police said the victim, Aron Rottenberg, 43, suffered third-degree burns to 50 percent of his body after physically confronting an attacker carrying a rag soaked with flammable liquid behind his Truman Avenue home at 4:12 a.m.

Police later arrested 18-year-old Shaul Spitzer, of nearby Adams Lane, on felony counts of first-degree attempted arson and first-degree assault.

Police said Spitzer had serious burns to his hands and arms. He was hospitalized in Nyack before being taken to Cornell Medical Center.

Rottenberg was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, police said.

Police said the Rottenberg family has previously been the target of violence and protests. The feud stems from the fact that Rottenberg worships at the Friedwald Center, not the community's main synagogue used by David Twersky, the Skver Hasidic grand rabbi and the worldwide community's dynastic leader.

On May 6, more than 100 volunteer firefighters were called out after the vacant upper floor of a Bush Lane house caught fire where another dissident family lived. The cause of another fire on Truman Avenue in September was not determined.

Rottenberg and his family had installed surveillance cameras on the two-story structure because of concerns over previous incidents, police said.

Police said Sunday they had not yet found any connection with past incidents against the family and other dissidents living in the community.

"I know there is a history there and we're aware of problems within the community," Ramapo Police Detective Lt. Mark Emma said. "We have no evidence there is a connection. We're still investigating."

Several residents who had gathered along Truman Avenue on Sunday afternoon declined to speak with a Journal News reporter.

A Ramapo police cruiser was parked in front of the Rottenberg's home. The modest two-story wooden structure that is located only two doors down from the Truman Avenue shul, a multi-story glass and stone building that towers over the neighborhood of drab apartment buildings and construction lots.

Chad Cooperman, whose father owns the New Square Fish Market on Adams Lane, said he had heard nothing about the crime and did not know either the Rottenberg or Spitzer. "About 20 families have those last names," he said.

The attack started after 4 a.m. Rottenberg's son woke up his father after hearing someone out on the porch of the family home, police said.

Four family members were at home at the time and began watching a security camera monitor when they saw a man later identified as Spitzer throw something onto their rear deck, Emma said.

The item turned out to be a rag soaked in flammable liquid intended to light the house on fire, police said. Rottenberg and his son went outside, where the father confronted Spitzer, Emma said.

"Somehow — we're not sure yet — the victim's clothes caught on fire," Emma said. "He has severe burns to his face, arms, and chest."

The Rottenberg's son rolled him on the ground to put out the flames, Emma said. Spitzer is alleged to have fled the scene before being arrested by police at 8:30 a.m.

Rockland Paramedic Services was called to the scene and found a badly burned Rottenberg sitting on the front steps of his home. He was taken to the burn unit at Westchester Medical Center.

Police said Spitzer also had serious burns to his hands and arms. He was hospitalized in Nyack before being taken to Cornel Medical Center.

Other charges against Spitzer are possible, including attempted murder or murder if Rottenberg were to die, police said.

The attack came on the first night of Lag B'Omer, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish celebration involving dancing around bonfires. Fire departments in Hillcrest, Monsey, Tallman and West Haverstraw responded to 17 trash bin and garbage can fires between 8:01 p.m. Saturday and 12:35 p.m. Sunday.

Ramapo police were later assisted by the Rockland Sheriff's Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation fire unit and the Rockland County Computer Crimes Unit.