C ommunity
COMMUNITYBRIEFS Musical About Rabbi Fred Neulander Planned
A PLAYWRIGHT FROM the Philadelphia area has
written a musical about Rabbi Fred Neulander, the
Cherry Hill, New Jersey, rabbi who was convicted in
2001 of having his wife, Carol, murdered seven years
earlier, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Neulander, who at the time was believed to be the
first United States rabbi tried for murder, is serving
30 years to life.

The Gefen Playhouse in Los Angeles is slated to
debut “A Wicked Soul in Cherry Hill” by Matt Schatz,
who grew up in Cherry Hill, where Neulander lived
and worked, from June 21 through July 24.

The playhouse website describes the show
thusly: “On a November night in 1994, a murder
was committed in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. In this
true-crime story told completely through song, a tight-
knit Jewish community gathers to recount, remember,
and reckon with the details of what happened in — and
to — their town. Written with humor and chutzpah,
this wholly original musical asks what it does to our
souls when our leaders fall from grace.”
Several songs were posted recently on social media,
then removed.

Schatz said the show isn’t a comedy, nor is it a
Broadway-style extravaganza.

Schatz said it was his job as an artist to ask
questions. “The rabbi was telling people how to be a person,
how to be a Jew, and he turned out to be evil,” Schatz
told the Inquirer. “How do we reckon with that?”
The congregants of M’kor Shalom in Cherry Hill,
which Neulander founded in 1974, aren’t happy with
the planned production.

“We know nothing about the content of the play,”
congregation President Drew Molotsky said in a
statement. “This is our history. It involves our friends
and our community, and it is very serious to us. To
make light of it or to exploit it for entertainment value
is not something we will ever condone.”
Rabbi Writes Megillah
Senior Rabbi Lance J. Sussman of Reform
Congregation Keneseth Israel wrote a new Megillah
entitled “The Purim Story.”
The Megillah was written for use at home or in
the synagogue and features new, original artwork by
Marlene D’Orazio Adler, the chair of the KI Temple
Judea Museum Artists Collaborative.

“The Purim Story” presents an easy-to-understand
version of the “Scroll of Esther” and includes illus-
trations that aid in the telling of the Purim story. It
includes a glossary of terms related to the story and
holiday of Purim.

“There is a need for a new presentation of the
Megillah precisely at this very moment because of the
rise of antisemitism,” Sussman said. “The holiday of
Purim has helped Jews navigate the emotional stress
Eddie Bruce
Courtesy of Eddie Bruce
of antisemitism for centuries. Purim is also fun. It’s
our most joyous holiday and in these challenging
Programs featuring Bennett have long been a part
times, it is very important to find ways to celebrate of Bruce’s repertoire, although the venue of a rock
Judaism and affirm our heritage.”
music hall is a bit unusual. Tickets start at $20. l
The book is available on Amazon as an e-book,
softcover and at the KI office.

Statewide Forum on Hate, Extremism Planned
for Feb. 22
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, along
with other Jewish Federations in Pennsylvania,
the Anti-Defamation League, Secure Community
Network and the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, will
host a daylong forum to address hate and extremism
on Feb. 22.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. via
Zoom. Individual Zoom sessions will focus on topics
such as securing religious institutions, legislative
advocacy and action and talking to children about
acts of bias and violence. Each session will be hosted
as an individual Zoom meeting and require separate
registrations. For details, visit jewishphilly.org/get-involved/ or
contact Jason Holtzman at jholtzman@jewishphilly.org.

Fred Neulander
22 FEBRUARY 17, 2022
Jewish Exponent archives
Eddie Bruce to Channel Tony Bennett at
Ardmore Music Hall
Longtime bandleader and cabaret performer Eddie
Bruce will play the music of Tony Bennett at the
Ardmore Music Hall at 3 p.m. on Feb. 27.

He will be joined by pianist Dean Schneider’s trio
and jazz tenor saxophonist Larry McKenna.

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