Margins of conviction: what did Lupo ask Hgry"sh?

Holyland bribery affair and conviction of a number of defendants including Uri Lupolianksi were exposed to a number of questions referred by the latter to Rav Elyashiv.

As described in the judgment spanning hundreds of pages, then- City Council member and chairman of the planning and construction Uri Lupolianksi would meet once or twice a week with Rav Elyashiv for guidance.

Lupolianski admits that he received a donation from State Witness Shmuel Dachner in the amount of 785 thousand shekels to build a synagogue within the structure of Yad Sarah, in memory of his parents but turned to Hgry"sh to make sure that it is permissible in theory.

"I wondered if I could build a synagogue within the organization structure if it was reasonable," he said, and asked Hgry"sh on the matter.

According to Lupolianksi the state witness is a family member of Hasidic leaders and rabbis, a family living in the world of Torah and prayer, and his mother was killed in the Holocaust and wants to do something in her memory: "A holocaust survivor who came and told me he wants to give a donation," says Lupolianski, "Here I can do something more In everlasting in memory of my father, for the soul of my mother, who was killed in the Holocaust."

The same state witness Shmuel Dachner described in court how he purchased an Ark amounting 77,057 shekels in favor of the synagogue following the mayor's request, but Lupolianski denied.

"If he would show me the Ark I would tell him not to bring such a thing... something with lions or tigers, etc., and all kinds of animals that there is a halachic problem with the matter." This question was also turned to Hgry"sh.

Finally Hgry"sh probably confirmed the synagogue and the Ark currently available within the structure of Yad Sarah in Jerusalem.

Due to the case Lupolianski was convicted that took from Halel Charney NIS 1.25 million, SHmuel Dachner total 785 thousand to build a synagogue, 77 057 NIS for the ark, NIS 64,300 for furniture in the Synagogue, 88 thousand NIS for the event for the ambassador's home, 255 thousand for the purchase of wheelchairs and 40 thousand for a yeshiva managed by his son.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!