Prime Steaks, Chops & Seafood
Soon after the shivah period for Carol
Another challenge in writing this was
was over, he told Soncini that he would
finding sources. Many people in the
marry her as soon as it was appropriately congregation, he explains, politely shut
possible: "I told you to trust me. When
their doors in his face. They had been
God closes a door, He opens a window" approached repeatedly by the many
She confessed the affair to the police,
reporters covering the case and felt they
but the crime was unsolved until 2000,
had already suffered enough.
when the hired killers also confessed.
But others people did come forward,
What drew Magida to the case, and
with many speaking only on the condi-
eventually to writing this book about it,
tion of anonymity. It was easier for him
was that "it seemed to present a com-
to get people from an earlier time in
pelling narrative that addressed so many
Neulander's life and in Carol's, "who
issues central to our lives: God, sex,
had some geographic and temporal dis-
unfortunately murder, homicide, betray-
tance," to speak openly with him.
al, along with those entwined issues that
Although he never met Neulander in
intrigued me, like honor, the lack of
person, Magida wrote to him regularly,
morality, theology, how religion plays or
and the rabbi would write back prompt-
doesn't play out in our lives, by those
ly but without any content the author
who lead, in whom we place our trust to might use. He turned down Magida's
carry it forth."
requests to interview him while in jail,
Magida began working on the book
saying that he was reserving his allotted
in the summer of 2000, six years after
prison visits for family and lawyers.
Carol was killed, as preparations were
"But he seemed to leave the door
under way for the first trial. Shortly after open that eventually we would meet,
the trial, which ended in a hung jury, he
after his acquittal," says Magida. After
became certain of
the conviction, the author
Neulander's guilt.
twice wrote to Neulander —
He explains that he
who still proclaims his inno-
walked into the trial,
cence — but he didn't
probably knowing more
respond. "I do not believe that
about the case than 90
we will ever meet," Magida
percent of the people
says.
present. "I still tried to
There are still some myster-
keep an open mind. I
ies of this case that will stay
wanted to be convinced
unsolved, Magida explains.
beyond a reasonable
Through one of his "deep
doubt."
throat" sources, he obtained a
Magida's style is com-
record of limericks about the
pelling. For this author,
case, lines in verse tracing the
perhaps the greatest chal-
relationship of Neulander and
Author Arthu r
lenge in writing the book
Soncini, which were anony-
Magida
"was keeping my own
mously sent to the police.
anger at Fred in check.
He also mentions an anony-
The more I discovered about him, the
mous letter by a Jewish person who
more horrible the anecdotes became, the
compares Neulander's evil ways to those
angrier I got and the angrier the prose
of Hitler: "You were starting to believe
got. I realized that I was writing an anti-
that you were better than God. You
Fred screed, that my own moral impuls-
were not," the letter writer says, urging
es were coming out."
Neulander to tell the truth to his chil-
He explains that to write this, he had
dren and ask God for forgiveness.
to restrain himself and simply tell the
Magida, 57, remarks that throughout
story, not his anger at the story.
his career, he has made friends with rab-
Ultimately, he leaves it to the reader to
bis around the country, and several
draw conclusions as he reconstructs
declined assisting in his research as they
events and developments in the case.
didn't want to perpetuate this horrible
As he watched Neulander on trial, did story in any way, "that it would do harm
he witness any aspects of the good rabbi
to the Jews."
in him? "Not at the first trial. He fell
He adds, "I don't think the Fred
apart on the stand. I could not envision,
Neulander saga is of harm to the Jews.
even in my wildest imaginings, that this
It's of harm to Fred Neulander. The only
man was a powerhouse on the pulpit."
harm that's done to the Jewish commu-
He goes on to explain that at the sec-
nity is if it refuses to hear such stories of
ond trial, when Neulander took the
any rabbi who so irreparably and greedi-
stand to plead for his life, Magida could
ly violates the trust placed in him." ❑
see "not the good rabbi, but the power-
fully commanding rabbi, who could be
The Rabbi and the Hitman is
charming and command center stage."
available through www.jewish.com .
Lelli's Traditional
"Rollback" is On!!
July 1st through August 31, 2003
Lelli's of Auburn Hills
welcomes you and your guests
to order from our
Rollback Menu.
Where
F ood is
King!
The prices have been reduced
on over 30 of our
most popular dishes
Our savory Baby Lamb Chops $27.50
Our Famous Filet Mignon w/"Zip" Sauce $23.00
Broiled Lobster Tail $30.00
Boneless Breast of Chicken Lelli $15.00
All served in the traditional Italian Style including all Six Courses
Call us now for details and reservations!
248.373.4440
885 N. Opdyke, Auburn Hills •
ail Mile North of Silverdome)
we took forward to Serving Yo:u.!
(Saturdays Excluded. Not Valid With Any Other Promotions or Coupons)
PEAEODY5
4,
t
z4..e total,
A Birmingham Tradition For 25'rears
Entertainment Friday &
Saturday Nights
Two Hours Free Parking
In The Structure
Directly Behind Peabody's
One Lunch Or ff e ■ 0/
One Dinner Entry
U ° OFF'
When You Buy A Lunch Or Dinner Of Equal Or Greater Value
Valid Mon.-Thurs. • With Coupon • Expires 7/31/03
248.644.5222
34965 Woodward ♦ Just South Of Maple
Reservations taken for S or more
72973o
MID-EASTERN
CHALDEAN
AMERICAN
CUISINE
RESTAURANT
LUNCH BUFFET in WEST BLOOMFIELD IS BACK
FOR $7 95 • MONDAY-FRIDAY
Not good with any other offer,
LUNCH & DINNER BUFFET MON-FRI
r
248-668-1800
O
6123 HAGGERTY ROAD • WEST BLOOMFIELD
Just N of Maple (opposite NAeiies)
OFF
TOTAL
BILL
248-559-9099
27060 EVERGREEN • Lathrup Village
at 696
s.
/ coupon per couple
Exp. 7/31/03. Not good on buffet g
Not good with any other offer a :4
6/27
2003
73