Rabbi Uri Lupolianski, a former Jerusalem mayor and the founder of the Yad Sarah medical-aid organization, died Wednesday evening at the age of 74.
Lupolianski had been hospitalized in recent days after developing pneumonia, which caused complications with his breathing.
He served as mayor of Jerusalem from 2003 to 2008, becoming the first haredi (ultra-Orthodox) politician elected to the role.
In 2014, Lupolianski was convicted of accepting bribes in connection with the Holyland affair. The charges stemmed from his approval of a construction plan while heading the Jerusalem Municipality’s Planning and Building Committee and during his tenure as mayor.
Lupolianski fined, did service; built Yad Sarah
Although he was initially sentenced to six years in prison, the court later accepted his appeal, citing medical concerns. He was ultimately ordered to perform six months of community service and fined approximately NIS 500,000.
Lupolianski founded Yad Sarah in response to difficulties he encountered when trying to borrow a humidifier for his infant son.
What began as a small initiative later became one of Israel’s largest volunteer organizations, operating dozens of branches nationwide and focusing primarily on lending medical equipment to those in need.
Yad Sarah was awarded the Israel Prize in 1994.