The Rabbi and the Hit Man: A True Tale of Murder, Passion, and the Shattered Faith of a Congregation

by Arthur J. Magida

A fascinating true-crime narrative about the first rabbi ever accused of murder and what the case says about the role of clergy in America. On the evening of November 1, 1994, Rabbi Fred Neulander returned home to find his wife, Carol, facedown on the living room floor, blood everywhere. He called for help, but it was too late. Two trials and eight years later, the founder of the largest reform synagogue in southern New Jersey became the first rabbi ever convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. In a gripping examination of the misuses of the pulpit and the self-delusions of power, Arthur J. Magida paints a devastating portrait of a manipulative man who used his position of trust in the temple to attract several mistresses -- and to befriend a lonely recovering alcoholic, whom he convinced to kill his wife "for the good of Israel." The Rabbi and the Hit Man straddles the juncture of faith and trust, and confronts issues of sex, narcissism, arrogance, and adultery. It is the definitive account of a charismatic clergyman who paid the ultimate price for ignoring his own words of "We live at any moment with our total past ... What we do will stay with us forever."

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Jewish, Religion, Biography

296 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Arthur J. Magida's new book, Code Name Madeleine: A Sufi Spy in Nazi-Occupied Paris, will be published by W.W. Norton in June 2020.
Advance readers call Code Name Madeleine "a thrilling spy story & a moving portrait of Noor Inayat Khan's courage" and "one of the finest & most affecting true stories of espionage I have read."
A former professor at Georgetown University and at the University of Baltimore and a consultant to several PBS documentaries, Magida has been a columnist for the on-line religion magazine, Beliefnet.com; a contributing correspondent to PBS's "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly;" editorial director of Jewish Lights Publishing; senior editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times; environmental reporter for National Journal; writer/editor for Ralph Nader; director of publications for an energy conservation project; & a reporter for Pennsylvania newspapers.
His op-eds have appeared in major newspapers around the country, he has free-lanced for such publications as Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, Tikkun & Geo. amd he has appeared on Dateline, the CBS Early Show, Court TV's "Catherine Crier Live," "The MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour," ABC's "World News Tonight," C-Span's "Booknotes," NPR's "Morning Edition" and an A&E documentary.

Reviews

[Spider the Doof Warrior · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book again. It's interesting how a person can pretend to be so nice and respectable while plotting to kill his wife. I'm sorry but, DIVORCE IS LESS EVIL THAN MURDER! Sure folks will go, you got a divorce? How SCANDALOUS. But it's nothing like OMG YOU ARE A HORRIBLE MURDERER! He traumatized his children, ruined the life of the guy who helped kill his wife by goading him into doing so and generally was an asshole.

[Johari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had Arthur as an instructor for Literary Non-Fiction in graduate school at University of Batlimore and was required to read this book. Not something I would have normally picked up but it was a great read and I highly recommend it.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago. For true crime, it was a surprising account well told, If memory serves me correctly

[Rushay Booysen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story about a Rabbi who had his wife murdered so that he could be with his mistress.The book just details the plot and how he was caught in the end.

[Bill reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It all begins with a funeral in New Jersey. Carol Neulander is laid to rest while a rabbi recites a prayer and handfuls of dirt are thrown onto her coffin. The author is good. He quickly points out the fact that Carol’s loving husband, Rabbi Fred Neulander was visiting one of his flock just nine hours before the murder, for “some afternoon love.” Fred was the head cheese at a local synagogue. He tells the police that he had a great marriage, but his son Matthew says that his mother asked for divorce only days before the murder. At the shiva for his dead wife, Freddie tells how many Jews does it take to change a light bulb jokes. The police hear rumors of affairs and it heightens their interest in the rabbi. He met his wife, Carol, at Trinity College in 1962. While at the WASPY Connecticut school, the Queens, NY native decided to become a rabbi. It was a career choice, not a calling. Carol came from money. Fred did not, but they shared a Jewish background. Like the Jefferson’s, he was movin’ on up. By 1974, Neulander had his own synagogue in Cherry Hill, N.J. His congregation consisted of mostly well heeled doctors, lawyers, and others with money. He gave long and entertaining sermons. Some found him charismatic, while others believed that he was a con artist. In 1992, he met Elaine Soncini. He performed the service when her husband died. The mover and shaker wasted little time and got to know the grieving shiksa; in the biblical sense, only days after the funeral. Elaine converted from RC to Judaism. A short time later, Carol is killed. The holy man visited his mistress the next day and told her “when God closes a door. He opens a window.” The police discover another shiksa mistress, Rachel, who also converted to the Freddie’s old time faith. I think that I need a score card. The wandering rabbi was given his walking papers and half of his $111,000 salary as severance. For that kind of money, I would renounce my atheism, put on a collar and pass the collection basket. Baby needs a new pair of shoes. Fred becomes friends with a reformed ex-con named Peppy Levin. While playing racquetball at Gold’s gym, he tells Levin that he wishes he would find his wife dead on the floor when he gets home. Bad news for Neulander, as a determined Irish-Catholic cop, Marty Devlin, investigates the case like a bulldog. A stranger than fiction character enters the picture. Len Jenoff, a college dropout and half assed private eye had befriended Neulander and is “hired” to look into the murder. Six years later, Jenoff meets the D.A. and Marty Devlin and has an incredible story to tell, involving the rabbi, the security of the state of Israel, and his participation in the murder. Holy s***, this is entertaining! The trial begins with witness after witness testifying as to Neulander’s wish to off his wife. His son, Matthew takes the stand against him. Even as a non-believer, I have always been captivated the phrase, “the sins of the father,” sometimes for very personal reasons. The trial portion and verdict end the book, and the author is too brief in the details. He includes many religious prayers and practices in Hebrew, which I found tedious and unnecessary. I am reading for the criminal nitty gritty and don’t need a theology lesson. Therefore, The Rabbi and the Hit Man is an average entry in the field of true crime.

[Steven Loebig · Rating 1 out of 5]

[SPOILERS]
I am a huge fan of true crime, and this book bored me to death. There was so much unnecessary filler information. Random people involved in the case had their entire backstories detailed out. For example, I had to read through 6 pages about how one of the detectives ended up in his position. Did it help me? No. Did it bore me? Yes.

Had a very hard time finishing this book and I kind of wish I never did. Felt like a waste of time. It was 289 pages of backstories and pointless details and MANY connections to the Jewish faith. I understand we need some Judaism references since the main character was a Rabbi, but again, so much information that the main plot was lost.

I'll sum up the entire book in two sentences to save you alllllll that wasted time:

A Rabbi hires a hit man to kill his wife so he can be with his mistress. The hit man eventually came clean from guilt and the Rabbi was arrested.

There! You basically got the same information that I have after reading this book.

Also, the book contained pictures of the Rabbi and his family which were all pretty neat, but they were weirdly placed in the middle of the book between chapters rather than at the end. It also had the Rabbi's most recent prison paperwork, so naturally, I already knew what happens in the end before I got there.

True crime novels should be filled with interviews, evidence, documentation, and transcripts from interrogations or trials. They should NOT jump all over the place and dance around the story to drag it out across almost 300 pages. Sometimes a case just isn't that interesting and doesn't deserve its own novel.

[Alexis Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one admittedly took me a while to finish, but ultimately I found it to be a well-written and respectful retelling of a gruesome tragedy. It was unsettling to read something that sounds more like a horror movie plot line than a real life happening only a few towns over.

Arthur J. Magida details the life of Rabbi Fred Neulander, who was convicted of hiring two hit men to brutally murder his wife in 1994. His telling of Neulander’s upbringing was not particularly interesting, but frankly, that wasn’t Magida’s fault, Neulander’s story was not that compelling. His poor wife deserved better, as did his children.

I’d recommend.

[Don Siegrist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was impressed with how the author was able to keep the reader's attention, even though the outcome is already known. His description of Jewish life in the midst of an over-riding "Anglo-Saxon" culture was thought provoking for this gentile. I also enjoyed the mini-biographies about each of the flawed people involved in this murder for hire plot. A motley bunch of phonies and misfits makes for entertaining reading.

The town where the murder occurred, Cherry Hill NJ, is important to the plot and is treated as almost a character itself. Full disclosure: I was born and raised in Cherry Hill, (but fled at the first opportunity) and enjoyed his descriptions of places I remember. Without that the book may not have been as entertaining.

[Shannon D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The murder of the Rabbi's wife occurred in my hometown when I was in 9th grade. In 7th grade I attended many Bar and Bat Mitvahs, a few of which were presided over by Rabbi Neulander. I wondered if a book had ever been written about the case and found this book.

I thought the author did an excellent job researching and piecing it all together with compassion and humanity -- the very qualities that Fred Neulander tragically lacks.

[Kyote · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to love this book, but it was really uninteresting
I’m not sure how one could make the life of such an odd character dull, but magida managed to do that with this book

The narrative never fully forms a story

There is a ton of build up with little to no payoff in the end.
Super disappointed in this book.

Did help me get to sleep though...

[Charles Reimler · Rating 5 out of 5]

External Public Image, Persona, Facade Was Opposite Private Behavior! Spiritual Leader Rabbi Adulatory, Lousy Marriage, And Murderer “Character Flaws Dark Evil Soul “Hidden Before Public”! LESSON THINK & Do Not Blindsided Trust Religious Leaders!
Book Is Quite Outstanding “Readable; Plus Detail Facts”! 5-Star Plus True Crime Classic!

[Jane Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Crime

This is a very good true crime story. The author has.done good work.of telling the stpry of this murder. I don't know wjhy he have away the ending by the title and the tone of the book. It is worth the read and one of the best true crime is books

[Walt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well-written, a very thorough examination of a hard-to-believe crime: a rabbi arranging to have his wife murdered, and not being caught for 7 years.

The story is told in exacting detail without boring the reader with minutiae.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't typically the type of book I'd choose, but my husband surprised me with it. I enjoyed the book very much, the characters were alive and had me experiencing many different feelings (I know I wanted to slap one person due to their arrogance). I won't ruin the ending, but I was satisfied.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and well written.

I have recommended this book to others. Held my interest throughout. The court scenes did not drag as is often seen.

[carol deminie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I enjoyed reading this book, one of the better true crime novels I’ve read. Many interesting characters and well written overall.

[Erinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like true crime and I really enjoyed this book. I grew up in Northern New Jersey in the 90s and although I don't remember this event, reading about it is fascinating.

[Matthew Callman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story written in a novel format. This style of book allowed me to get lost in the pages even though I could just read the Wikipedia page.

[Merry Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is based on a true story. It was well written and informative.

[Jill H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book relates the true story of a New Jersey rabbi who has his wife murdered by a less than professional hit man.(No spoiler warning is necessary since the title and the cover notes make no secret of the subject).
Rabbi Fred Neulander is an egotistical and charismatic leader of his Reform temple and his congregants either love him or have reservations about his behavior as rumors swirl about his philandering. He finds his wife battered to death in their home and his reactions to the horror are atypical for one who finds himself in that situation. He becomes a suspect but his friends continue to support him....rabbis don't commit crimes, especially one as heinous as murder. But then things begin to fall apart and although the case drags on for several years, justice is served.
An interesting tale of one man's self absorption and infidelity, it becomes somewhat repetitive at times which slows down the narrative a bit.......otherwise, quite fascinating.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the true crime telling of how Rabbi Fred Neulander had his wife, Carol, murdered back in 1994. I grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ. I went to high school with the Neulander children (Rebecca was 2 years ahead, Matthew was a year behind.). I had cakes from Carol’s bakery, The Classic Cake Company. We grew up listening to Ken Garland and his wife Elaine Soncini on Philadelphia radio. And when I worked at the Courier-Post, my job was to collect and archive all of the Neulander murder stories online. So I thought I knew everything about the crime. NOPE!

Even though the author shits on New Jersey and my hometown from page 1, he put together an amazing retelling of how cold and depraved Fred Neulander really was.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an account of the real murder of Carol Neulander and the investigation and trial of her husband Rabbi Fred Neulander, who has the distinction of being the first rabbi ever convicted of murder. It was fascinating to read partly because I knew of the area of NJ where it occurred. The story is also fairly contemporary as the murder occurred in 1994, and Rabbi Neulander's conviction was handed down in 2002.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disturbing. I can't believe what this rabbi did! He was a sick individual. He cheated on his wife and rather than divorcing her he used an individual that looked up to him to murder her. He was the reason she was murdered and his actions did not only result in the loss of her life but he hurt his entire family. How anyone could be so cold and heartless is unthinkable! Worth the read.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at what happens when a sociopath gains major influence in a congregation, and how clergyman's crimes effect more than just himself and his victims. This book also did a good job of explaining relevant Jewish traditions so that non-jewish readers could understand what was happening.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was taking a class from Arthur Magida while he was writing this book. (Yes, it's taken me a while to read it.) The story is horrifying, but the book is extremely well-written. I wish there had been more suspense, but that's nearly impossible when retelling a true story that made national headlines.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Magida does a great job of intertwining all the pieces (love, faith, greed, power, acceptance) of this horrid, torrid, tale of murder. Although it started out slow (it took a good 100 pages for me to get into it), the true story of a woman's murder is heart-wrenching and tragic. Neulander personifies narcissistic sociopath.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan of the idea that the entire story was revealed on the back of the jacket, but considering it was based on a true-story, I suppose there really shouldn't have been any suspense. A very interesting read on the first Rabbi to be tried for murder.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

great true-crime, couldn't put it down, good book club discussion

[Florence Buchholz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly horrifying that this man was a religious leader.

[Jpatrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read - true story about the Rabbi convicted of hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Well written and engaging!