Moshe Sanbar

Who was Moshe Sanbar?

Moshe Sanbar was an economist and Israeli public figure. He served as governor of the Bank of Israel during 1971–1976.

Sanbar was born in Hungary, surviving the Second World War as a prisoner at Dachau Concentration Camp. Following his immigration to Israel he became associated with economic research and gradually involved in the work of the Ministry of Finance. He was in charge of the state budget and served as a personal, professional consultant to ministers Levi Eshkol and Pinhas Sapir, acting for the latter in his post as Minister of Trade and Industry (1970-1971).

Sanbar was active in four main fields:

Civil service - In his various capacities at the Ministry of Finance: Head of the research division (1958-1960), deputy director of the State Income Directorate (1960-3), head of the Budget Directorate and economic advisor to the minister (1963-8). After retiring in 1968 he continued to consult minister Sapir. In 1971 he was appointed as Governor of the Bank of Israel for a period of five years. In 1977 he was appointed as chairperson of the Sanbar Commission on local authorities.

Public sector - In various activities in the fields of education, culture, sports and science. He was for many years associated with Habima Theatre and the College of Management. In the late 1980s he began his involvement in benefiting holocaust survivors, becoming world treasurer and the chairman of the executive in the Claims Conference.