Israel – A new bill was proposed today by Shas MK Nissim Zeev that stipulates that Israeli paper money will be emblazoned with the sentence: “We believe in the Creator.”
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“Money and bills are the center of our life, and it is befitting that the money issued by the State of Israel will be a reminder of Jewish faith,” explained MK Zeev. “Even those who don’t uphold the mitzvoth will be reminded in this way of the foundation of the religion of Israel.”
Zeev continued, “This declaration is a confirmation of the connection between Israel, the Torah, and the principles of the Jewish faith. It should be noted in this context that similar declarations are printed on money issued in other countries, including American bills – ‘In God we trust.'”
MK Zeev said to Ynet, “We live in a Jewish and democratic state and want to apply this in practice. Democracy exists in the State of Israel, but what about the character of the Jewish state? How does this come to fruition?
The people of Israel returned to the land of Israel after 2000 years in exile thanks to their faith. The nation survived because of its faith, and we are in the week of Tisha B’Av, the destruction of the Temple.”
Zeev elaborated, “The goal of the bill is to remind every Jew that he needs to believe in the Creator. From my perspective, we can start with the larger bills of 100 and 200, and slowly work down to the other bills. We need to know that the bigger the bill, the greater the faith in God. Arabs should not have a problem with the wording because they also believe in the Creator.”
MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta’al) was outraged by the bill. “This is a bizarre bill that has no place (in our society). Member of Knesset Nissim Zeev is a real gem in the parliament… I believe that on the money bills, alongside the declaration that there is a Creator, it should be declared that the same Creator created Zeev himself. No doubt this is an exemplary intellectual initiative that represents the confluence refined good taste and creative thinking.”
Probably for the one and only time in my life, I will agree with the arab MK that this bill is truly “bizarre” and inappropriate. Jews don’t need to look at their money to remind them of hashem. If they do, we shouldn’t have the zchus to live in EY. MK Zeev either has too much time on his hands or has bigger problems than we should know about. Either way, our emunah in the Ebeshter is not somthing we need politicians to be legislating.
How do you say creator in hebrew? If it different then god? Coming to think of it the dollar is a world currency, for a reminder printing it on all coke bottles and eget buses will do the job.
what a brilliant idea — combining our holy faith and money — that’s not going to be misconstrued.
That’s a good step, finaly they admit
What other state is so stupid and blind to have open enemies like Achmed Tibi in their parliaments?
Rav Nissim Zeev shows that Shas is the party that does the most for torah. There is a lot of ashkenazi chareidim who vote for Shas.
why can’t this Fry people print, in Hashem we trust.
“Money and bills are the center of our life.” Oy vey. What sort of a message is that supposed to send? Yes, we need money for food and shelter, etc. and should be thankful for whatever money we have, but its a means to an end, not the center of our life. This is a silly bill and just a political gimmick.
It is finally time that the dumb israelis realized that the americans write it so they copying
Shame on you israel it took you 60 years
The US has it because the US was founded 230+ years ago at a time when secularism and atheism were’nt very popular. State of Israel was established in 1948, a completely modern era. Printing “we believe in a creator” is very misleading and vague anyway; it’s not clear who does. A lot of hilonim certainly don’t and there are definitely haredim who don’t believe either…
Who reads their money other than to see if its a 10 or a 20. Don’t MK’s have more important issues to deal with?
In god we trust was added to the US currency in the cold war era in the 50s . It was not for done religious reasons but as a political statement to differentiate it self from the godless Communists. The violent protests in Israel made us look like the Taliban to the secular. Now thanks to Zeev bill we will look like Iran. Stop forcing religion on the secular Israelis.
“We believe in the Creator”, but if we don’t “trust” Him, will the Creator believe in us? Take a moment to think about this.
On the dollar its printed “in g-d we trust” and on the shekel they will print “in the dollar we trust” !!!
It should read, “In G-d We Trust ~ All Others Pay Cash!”
However I think secularism has been “forced” on ALL of us Jews for quite a long time now.
how about a hechsher on the money, like an ”ou” or Eida etc. now that’ll really send a message!
I like the idea. Of course it won’t change the world, but it can add to the Jewish identity. “In God We Trust” was a 1950s response to Soviet aesthetic communism by the Americans.