Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Former Jerusalem mayor and longtime Knesset member Uri Lupolianski, a prominent Israeli public figure whose career combined decades of civic service with a later corruption conviction, died Wednesday night at the age of 74 after a prolonged illness. Lupolianski, who led Israel’s capital from 2003-2008, founded one of Israel’s largest volunteer-based social aid efforts.
He will be buried Thursday morning in Jerusalem.
Born in 1951 in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, Lupolianski was married and is survived by his wife and 12 children. He served as a military medic in his youth, an experience that would later influence his focus on health and social welfare. In 1976, after encountering difficulties obtaining medical equipment for a family member, he launched a small volunteer initiative to help people in need access essential devices.
That initiative eventually grew into Yad Sarah, a nationwide nonprofit organization that lends medical and mobility equipment to the elderly, people with disabilities, and those suffering from serious illness. Today, the organization operates dozens of branches across Israel and relies on thousands of volunteers, becoming a familiar presence in hospitals and homes across the country. The organization is named after his Polish grandmother, who perished in the Holocaust.
Lupolianski’s contribution to Israeli society through volunteerism earned him widespread recognition. Over the years, he received numerous awards, including the Israel Prize, the President’s Award for Volunteerism, the Knesset Speaker’s Award, and other honors from civic and social organizations. The Israel Prize, one of the country’s highest distinctions, was awarded to Yad Sarah in 1994, with Lupolianski accepting the honor on the organization’s behalf.
Parallel to his social work, Lupolianski built a long career in municipal politics. He entered public life in 1989, when he was elected to the Jerusalem City Council as a representative of Degel HaTorah, an Orthodox (Haredi) political party. He went on to serve in a series of senior municipal roles, including deputy mayor, acting mayor, chairman of the city’s planning and building committee, and head of family and community services.
In 2003, Lupolianski was elected mayor of Jerusalem, becoming the first Haredi leader to hold the post. His election was widely seen as a landmark moment for the integration of Haredi politicians into senior levels of public administration. He served one term and chose not to seek reelection in 2008.
Lupolianski’s public image was later damaged by his involvement in the Holyland affair, a major corruption case centered on a large real estate development project in Jerusalem. In 2014, he was convicted of accepting bribes after funds from a state witness were transferred to Yad Sarah. He was initially sentenced to six years in prison and fined NIS 500,000 ($157,000), but due to serious medical conditions, Israel’s Supreme Court reduced his sentence to six months of community service.
Following his death, Israeli leaders from across the political spectrum issued statements of condolence. President Isaac Herzog described Lupolianski as a “man of the people,” saying that his life’s work “became a global model for volunteerism.”
The Prime Minister’s Office said Lupolianski “embodied the spirit of Jerusalem” and was a pioneer in integrating the Haredi community into senior public service, adding that his life showed one could “maintain deep religious devotion while serving the entire public.”
Yad Sarah said in a statement, “We are stunned and heartbroken over the passing of our revered leader, the pillar of kindness,” adding, “Woe to the ship that has lost its captain.”
Knesset member Uri Maklev of United Torah Judaism said, “The world of kindness has today lost its greatest architect,” praising Lupolianski’s lifelong commitment to helping others with “warmth, integrity, and sensitivity.”
Related Topics
