Naomi Shemer (Hebrew: נׇעֳמִי שֶׁמֶר; 13 July 1930 – 26 June 2004) was an Israeli songwriter, composer, and performer, widely described as the "first lady of Israeli song". She became one of the most influential figures in modern Hebrew music, writing numerous songs that became cultural touchstones, most notably "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" ("Jerusalem of Gold"), which gained prominence after the Six-Day War and is often regarded as a second national anthem. Over a career spanning several decades, Shemer created music for adults and children, contributed to major festivals and cultural events, and became widely recognized for shaping the Israeli songbook.
Shemer was born Naomi Sapir (נעמי ספיר) to Rivka and Meir Sapir, Lithuanian Jewish immigrants to Mandatory Palestine, in Kvutzat Kinneret, a kibbutz they helped establish on the Sea of Galilee. In 1935, she and her mother visited Vilnius, where they met her father's sister Berta and her family. Many of Shemer's European relatives were later killed during the Holocaust.
Encouraged by her mother, Shemer started playing the piano at the age of six. After graduating from Jordan Valley High School, she postponed her military service to study music at the Israeli Conservatory in Tel Aviv (later the Tel Aviv Academy of Music), although some members of the kibbutz opposed this decision. She then continued at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, where she studied under several notable teachers, including Paul Ben-Haim, Frank Pelleg, Abel Ehrlich, Ilona Vincze-Kraus, and Josef Tal.
After completing her musical training, she returned to Kvutzat Kinneret and worked as a children's music teacher. Shemer composed some of her earliest works during this period, including "The Mail Arrived Today" and "Our Little Brother", the latter about her brother, Yankale. These songs later appeared on Yafa Yarkoni's 1958 album, Songs from Kinneret.
In 1951, after a deferment of about four years, she enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces, where she served as a pianist in The Nahal Singers, a secondary troupe to the Nahal Band.
Early career (1950s–early 1960s)
After completing her military service, Shemer began writing songs for the theater. She collaborated with composer Yochanan Zarai on the musical Peshita Al Ha-Kfar, for which she wrote lyrics under the pen name S. Carmel. Songs from the musical that later became well known include "Tarnegol Ben-Gever", "Rav Ha'Or VeHa'Tchelet", and "Shir HaBar". Following that, she wrote tunes for Ha'Ikar VeBat Ha'Ikar (The Farmer and the Farmer's Daughter) at the Ohel Theater.
Chaim Topol invited Shemer to write songs for the newly-formed band Batzal Yarok. Her first song for the group, "Mishirei Zener Noded" (better known as "Haderech Aruka Hi Varba"), written in 1957, achieved wide popularity and is often described as her first hit. Her autobiographical song "Noa" was also included in the band's first revue. For the show Daber El Hakir, staged at the Sambation Theater in 1958, she wrote and composed the song "Halayla Holech Ba'Sderot", which was performed in the show by Shimon Israeli.
Shemer wrote several successful songs for Israeli military ensembles including "Chamsinim Ba-Mashlat", and "Hakol Biglal Masmer" (based on "For Want of a Nail"). During the same period, she wrote the lyrics under the pen name "Alifaz" for the Dudaim songs "Kibui Orot" and "Shayeret Ha-Rokhvim". Additionally, Shemer wrote "Ir Levana", performed by the singer Loolik in a short film about Tel Aviv-Yafo.
In 1958, Shemer wrote "Hopa Hey" for an IDF program on Kol Israel. Two years later, the chorus that performed it won first prize in a competition in Italy. In 1960, she wrote song including "Bessadeh Tiltan" for the Northern Command Band, "Leil Emesh" performed by Shaike Levi, and "Shir Hashuk" for the play Aseret Hatzadikim which was recorded by HaTarnegolim in 1961.
At the end of 1960, Shemer embarked on a nine-month tour in the United States. In 1962, she wrote "Achrei Hashkiaa Basadeh" for the Shiriyon Men's Choir. She later collaborated with the Nahal Band on songs like "Machar" ("Tomorrow"), "Mitriyah Beshnayim" ("Umbrella for Two"), and "Mahbo'im" ("Hide and Seek").
In 1963, Shemer wrote "Chorshat Ha-Ekaliptus" ("The Eucalyptus Grove") about Kvutzat Kinneret for the musical Keytzad Shovrim Chamsin. The same year, she composed the music for the song "Kinneret" written by Rachel Bluwstein, for the Central Command Band.
In 1964, Shemer wrote songs for the Yarkon Bridge Trio's debut album First Love, including "Ahavat Poalei Habinyan", "Serenade Lah", "Ayelet Ahavim", and "Layla Bachof Achziv", which was also featured in the movie Dalia and the Sailors. That year, Shemer traveled to Paris with her daughter where she wrote songs reflecting chansonnier influences, such as "Ha'ir Be'afar" for the Yarkon Bridge Trio, and wrote Hebrew lyrics for French songs such as "Ilu Tziporim" (originally by Jean-Pierre Calvet and Jean Broussolle), "Shilgiya" (originally by Guy Béart), and "Ein Ahavot Smechot" (originally by Georges Brassens). Several of these lyrical adaptations were recorded by Yossi Banai.
After Shemer returned to Israel, producer Asher Havaquin approached her in 1966 and suggested forming a female quartet. Shemer established The Shemer Sisters, consisting of Dina Golan, Dalia Oren, Amna Goldstein, and Ruthy Bikal. Batya Strauss served as the musical director. The quartet's program included "Begani", "Zemer", and "Shiro Shel Aba". Financial difficulties ultimately caused the quartet to disband.
"Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" (1967)
Shemer wrote one of her best-known songs, "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" ("Jerusalem of Gold"), in 1967. The song gained immense popularity in Israel after the Six-Day War, with some suggesting it should replace the national anthem.
Since the release of the song, Shemer has been regarded by many as Israel's "national songwriter," seen as embodying Israel's spiritual values and sentiments through her music, though she may not have viewed herself in this way.
In May 2005, Haaretz reported that Shemer admitted in a letter to Gil Aldema that she plagiarized Paco Ibáñez's cover of the Navarerrese folk song "Pello Joxepe" while composing the melody of the song. In 1962, Paco Ibáñez performed "Pello Joxepe" in Israel, when Shemer might have heard it. During her lifetime, Shemer had denied allegations of plagiarism, referring to its similarity as an "unfortunate accident." Shemer stated that the controversy caused her significant distress. Hebrew song researcher Eliyahu Hacohen did not view the resemblance as plagiarism but rather as an acceptable influence in the songwriting process.