New Jersey rabbi is a suspect in the 1994 murder of his wife

Carol Neulander, 52, was bludgeoned to death the night of Nov. 1, 1994, in the family's home in Cherry Hill, N.J.

Investigators have not ruled out Neulander, the founder and former religious leader of Congregation M'kor Shalom in Cherry Hill, as a suspect in the murder.

He resigned from his pulpit in March 1995 after the murder investigation disclosed his alleged involvement in extramarital affairs.

A month after his resignation, Neulander was suspended from membership in the Central Conference of American Rabbis, which is the umbrella organization of Reform rabbis. The suspension does not invalidate his ordination.

Regardless of the grand jury's suspicions, Zucker said the rabbi is anxious to bring closure to his wife's murder.

"He's certainly hopeful that whatever the grand jury is doing, it will lead to the person responsible for his wife's death."

Len Jenoff, a private investigator who has been working for Neulander, is among those giving testimony to the grand jury.

Jenoff attended M'kor Shalom from 1993 to 1995.

"I still consider him my rabbi. He's still my friend, and, more important, from day one, I've been his private investigator," Jenoff said.

His own investigation into the Neulander murder is ongoing.

"I have hypotheses in two directions," Jenoff said.

One of his theories is that the murder was connected to a robbery at the Classic Cake Co. Inc., in Voorhees, N.J.

Carol Neulander founded the company.

The other, he said, is "a possible organized-crime theory."

"Russians or Israelis," he said. "That's all I can say."

The grand jury is slated to reconvene every Monday until its investigation is complete.