Yerushalayim shel zahav shuli natan biography

Hebrew song written by Naomi Shemer

"Jerusalem of Gold" (Hebrew: ירושלים של זהב, Yerushalayim Shel Zahav) is an Israeli song written by Naomi Shemer.

Often contrasted to Israel's national anthem, Hatikva, the original song expressed the deep longing of many Jews to return to Jerusalem's Old City and eastern areas. These areas had been inaccessible to Jews after the Palestine War, when the city was divided and East Jerusalem came under Jordanian control.

Following Israel's victory in the Six-Day War, Shemer added a final verse to commemorate the city's reunification under Israeli control and the restored Jewish access to its holy sites.

History

The melody of Yerushalayim Shel Zahav is largely based on the Basque lullaby, Pello Joxepe.^[1][2] Naomi Shemer first heard the melody during a visit by Paco Ibáñez to Israel in , where he performed the song to a group that included Shemer^[2] and Nehama Hendel.^[citation