Rabbi David Lapin
Rabbi David Lapin David Lapin, who worked with Jack Abramoff on lobbying for the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, also served as Dean of Abramoff's Eshkol Academy.
David Lapin grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. Like his brother, Daniel, David is a rabbi. When Daniel moved from LA to Mercer Island to start Toward Tradition, David Lapin took over his brother's post at the Pacific Jewish Center, an Orthodox Synagogue on Venice Beach Boardwalk. David also serves as the CEO of Strategic Business Ethics (SBE), which he founded in 1989. Their website advertises them as "the only consulting firm that links values and strategy for profit."
Abramoff met David Lapin while making the move Red Scorpion in Johannesburg in the 1980s and the two maintained a business relationship.
Lapin has sought to distance himself from both Abramoff and his brother, Daniel, since the story broke. A statement on the SBE website says "SBE has never, at any time, been involved in any financial transaction or business relationship with Mr. Abramoff. David Lapin has no relationship with Mr. Tom DeLay, nor is he in any way involved in his brother Daniel's organization, Toward Tradition. David Lapin is not politically involved in any way, and the work of SBE is completely apolitical."
Key Points:
Abramoff set up Lapin with another, highly lucrative CNMI contract.
When Abramoff submitted invoices to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) for work he did to keep MADE IN THE USA tags on their products despite sweatshop conditions, they included bills for regular calls to Lapin.
In 1996, Abramoff hooked Lapin up with a no-bid contract in the CNMI. Lapin claimed the purpose of the work was to raise the minimum wage - legislation never passed. He earned $1.2 million for the work he did, though the CNMI's Attorney General, Pam Brown, claims she can't find anyone who is aware of services Lapin provided. She did, however, remember that he traveled often in first class accommodations on the Commonwealth's dime.
Lapin's firm SBE did work for Abramoff clients.
Abramoff also threw some consulting work to SBE. The Choctaw Indians, an Abramoff client, hired SBE to do some consulting for their Pearl River Resort.
Lapin served as Dean of Eshkol.
Abramoff hired David Lapin to be the Dean of his Eshkol Academy for a time and was paid $60,000 for his services there. Robert Whitehill, a teacher at the school, described Lapin, who was living in Los Angeles at the time, as "an absentee dean." The school was located in Columbia, MD.
Research by Ryan Chiachiere
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