Naomi Shemer

Naomi Shemer, poet, composer, songwriter, and winner of the Israel Prize, was born to Meir and Rivka Sapir in Kibbutz Kinneret on July 13, 1930. As a poet and composer, she was one of the pillars of Hebrew song, and wrote and composed hundreds of songs for military bands, vocal ensembles, and the leading male and female singers in Israel. Her songs have become an integral part of the soundtrack of Israeli society.

Discover the stations of Naomi Shemer’s life—from the Sea of Galilee to Tel Aviv, via New York and Paris—in sound, musical scores, photographs and video recordings, items from her personal archive, selected songs, and various materials relating to her creative work.

About the Naomi Shemer Archive

The Naomi Shemer Archive is one of over 250 private archives of Israeli and Jewish composers in the National Library of Israel’s Music Department. Naomi Shemer’s archive sits alongside archives of leading composers of Hebrew music such as Moshe Wilensky, Sasha Argov, David Zehavi, Dov (Dubi) Seltzer, Mordechai Zeira and many others.

Naomi Shemer’s archive, whose catalog number in the Music Department is Mus 0250, was donated to the National Library of Israel by her family in late 2010. The archive comprises 17 different categories: manuscripts of Naomi Shemer’s poems, correspondence, materials related to the song “Jerusalem of Gold,” personal records and documents, photographs, press clippings, as well as other materials linked to Naomi Shemer and her work. The process of sorting, arranging, and cataloging the collection was completed in 2012, after which the entire print and audio archive underwent digitization.

Naomi Shemer’s archive is one of the richest collections in the Music Department and reflects her status as the one of the most prominent poets and songwriters in Israeli history. Her powerful connection with her audience is reflected in letters, drawings, and other works that were sent to her over the years. This correspondence also tells the story of the State of Israel from the 1950s right up until the current era. Even after her death, the archive continues to serves as a source of inspiration for both researchers and artists.

Photographs from Naomi Shemer’s Life

Photographs from different periods in Naomi Shemer’s life, from her childhood and adolescence in Kibbutz Kinneret, her first and second marriages, her children Lali Shemer and Ariel Horowitz, performances, and more.

Due to copyright restrictions, the images may only be viewed only on the National Library of Israel premises.

The National Library endeavors to make material accessible to the public in accordance with the law, and when there are no known restrictions with regard to access to the materials. If you believe a violation of any rights has occurred regarding materials appearing on this site, or in the case of any question, please contact us at [email protected] and we will investigate the claim. If we decide that the appeal warrants clarification, we will halt access to the material until such time as a final determination on the claim is reached.

Use of materials from the National Library of Israel website, as well as their duplication and reproduction, in part or in full, in electronic format or in print are restricted to private, research or scientific use only, in accordance with the fair use rules listed in the Copyright Law 2007. In any case in which material is used, the source must be cited.

Please contact us using the e-mail address listed above regarding any other issues related to use of the collection or for any further details.

Naomi Shemer

About the Naomi Shemer Archive

Selected Songs by Naomi Shemer

Yerushalayim Shel Zahav

B’sdot Beit Lehem

BeKhol Shana BaStav Giora

BaKayitz

Ha’ir HaLevana

Akedat Yitzhak

Hurshat Ha'Ekalyptus

Shir HaHodashim

Shirat Ha'Asabim

Noa

Layla BeChof Achziv

Lu Yehi

Emtsa HaTamuz

HaDoar Ba HaYom

Poems in Her Handwriting

HaDoar Ba HaYom

Yerushalayim Shel Zahav

Lu Yehi

Omrim Yeshna Eretz

Emtsa HaTamuz

Haozeret Shel Zeresh

BeKhol Shana BaStav Giora

Ha’Ir HaLevana

Documents and Manuscripts

Student Card

Report Card

Soldier's ID Card

Honorary Doctorate Speech

Honorary Doctorate

Fun with the Grandchildren

Fun with the Grandchildren

How to Make an Envelope

Photographs from Naomi Shemer’s Life

Naomi Shemer at Age Two

Rivka and Naomi Sapir

At Kibbutz Kinneret

11h Grade

The Shemer Family

At the Piano

The Shemer-Horowitz Family

Songbooks and Music

Hatiyul HaKatan

Shirim MeKineret

Kol Shirei Naomi Shemer

Sefer Arba

In Concert: The Songs of Naomi Shemer

Playlists

Songs by Naomi Shemer

Performances by IDF Bands

Instrumental Performances

Terms of Use

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