Tag Archive for Arieh Deri

New Israeli banknotes raise Ashkenazi-Sephardi friction

The Bank of Israel presents a new set of bills amid accusations of cultural discrimination, that feature the likenesses of only famous Ashkenazi poets.

 

The cabinet authorized on Sunday the issuance of newly designed paper money for NIS 50 and NIS 200 notes.

A stack of shekel bills.

A stack of shekel bills. – Photo: Moti Kimche

The new bills are to enter circulation at the end of 2013. Their designs feature the likenesses of famous Hebrew poets. Criticism has been aired at the selection of the poets, who are all Ashkenazi Jews.

According to the plan that Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer presented to the cabinet, Shaul Tchernichovsky is to feature on the new NIS 50 note, which will be green. Continue Reading »