Moshe Sanbar

Israeli economist (1926-2012)

Moshe Sanbar (Hebrew: משה זנבר; March 29, 1926 – October 1, 2012) was an economist and Israeli public figure. He served as Governor of the Bank of Israel (1971–76)[1] and chairman of Bank Leumi (1988–95).

Moshe Sanbar
2nd Governor of the Bank of Israel
In office
November 1, 1971 – November 1, 1976
PresidentZalman Shazar
Ephraim Katzir
Prime MinisterGolda Meir
Yitzhak Rabin
Preceded byDavid Horowitz
Succeeded byArnon Gafni
Personal details
Born(1926-03-29)29 March 1926
Kecskemét, Hungary
Died1 October 2012(2012-10-01) (aged 86)
Tel Aviv, Israel
EducationHebrew University of Jerusalem

Sanbar was born in Hungary, surviving the Second World War as a prisoner at Dachau Concentration Camp.[2]

In the State of Israel, he began his work as an economic researcher and became gradually involved in the work of the Ministry of Finance. In the years 1964 to 1968 he was director of the state budget.[3]

Sanbar was the second Governor of the Bank of Israel from 1971 to 1976.

He was for many years involved in public life. Among his better known roles were chairman of Habima Theatre[4][5] and President of the International Chamber of Commerce in Israel.

From 1987 and until his death in 2012, Sanbar was deeply involved in advocating for the rights and wellbeing of holocaust survivors, through his work in Israeli organizations, in international forums and in the Claims Conference.


References change

  1. Short biographical introduction in the Bank of Israel's official website Archived August 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Moshe Sandberg, ‘’’My Longest Year: in the Hungarian Labour Service and in the Nazi camps’’’, Yad Vashem, 1968.
  3. עובדי האוצר נפרדו מש. סורוקר, מעריב, 13 באפריל 1964. (in Hebrew)
  4. הוקם חבר הנאמנים של הבימה, למרחב, 18 באוגוסט 1969. (in Hebrew)
  5. צור – יו"ר נאמני "הבימה", ידיעות אחרונות, 23 במרץ 1981. (in Hebrew)