For the 2nd part of Rabbi Epelbaum’s Lunch and Learn series, Special Guest Cantor Magda Fishman will present the life and work of Naomi Shemer, often called the First Lady of Israeli Song. One of Israel’s most influential composers and lyricists, Shemer created some of the country’s most beloved songs, including Jerusalem of Gold, Lu Yehi, and Al Kol Ele. Her music blends biblical and traditional Jewish themes with modern Israeli life, capturing everyday experiences, national milestones, and shared hopes. Clear, melodic, and deeply resonant, Shemer’s songs have become part of Israel’s cultural fabric and continue to be sung by people of all ages.

IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL
Free for B’nai Torah Members, $18 Guests
(For Rabbi Epelbaum’s 3-part Lunch & Learn series)

Click here to register

You are welcome to bring a dairy/parve lunch; coffee and tea are provided.

Naomi Shemer was born on July 13, 1930, in Kvutzat Kinneret, a kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee founded by her parents, where she began playing piano as a child and leading community singing. After studying music in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, she served in the cultural troupe of Nahal (an IDF youth-organization), and soon after wrote songs for army revues and the popular musical revue “Five‑Five,” launching her career as a composer. Over the decades she composed hundreds of songs, both for adults and children, shaping modern Hebrew song, with her 1967 composition Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold) becoming Israel’s most beloved and iconic song. She was awarded the Israel Prize in 1983 and continued composing until she passed away on June 26, 2004; her music remains a foundational part of Israeli cultural identity.