Naomi Shemer (July 13, 1930 – June 26, 2004) was one of Israel’s most important and prolific song writers. During her lifetime, she was hailed as the “First Lady of Israeli Song.”

Born Naomi Sapir, Shemer did her own songwriting and composing, as well as setting famous poems to music, such as those of the Israeli poet, Rachel, and adapting well-known songs into Hebrew, such as the Beatles songs “Hey Jude” and “Let it Be” (“Lu Yehi”).

In 1983, Shemer received the Israel Prize for her contribution to Israeli culture.

Several of Shemer’s songs have the quality of anthems, striking deep national and emotional chords in the hearts of Israelis.[original research?] Her most famous song is “Yerushalayim shel zahav” (“Jerusalem of Gold”). She wrote it in 1967, before the Six Day War, and added another stanza after Israel captured East Jerusalem and regained access to the Western Wall. In 1968, Uri Avnery, then a member of the Israeli parliament, proposed that “Jerusalem of Gold” become the Israeli anthem. The proposal was rejected, but the nomination itself says something about the power of Shemer’s songs.

Shemer continued to write and perform until her death. She died of cancer in 2004 at the age of seventy three.