Author of postcard sent to Naomi Shemer praising 'Jerusalem of Gold' identified after 59 years

Israeli songwriter Naomi Shemer's iconic song "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" (Jerusalem of Gold) received praise from a previously unknown author, Six-Day War veteran Aharon Bar-Oz, after 59 years. The postcard, which Bar-Oz wrote while serving on the frontlines of the war, was sent to Shemer on June 6, 1967, just days after the Old City of Jerusalem was recaptured.

Bar-Oz expressed his admiration for the song, which had become an emblem of the nation's strength during the conflict. Shemer, moved by Bar-Oz's message, responded on June 15, 1967, expressing her delight that the song had helped the unit in their victory and that she had played a small role in inspiring them. Bar-Oz, now 89, had kept the response letter framed and displayed in his home for decades.

Recently, during a visit to the National Library's exhibit showcasing Shemer's personal archives, a participant recognized Bar-Oz's handwriting on the postcard, finally revealing the author after a lengthy mystery. Bar-Oz donated the response letter to the National Library in late August, ensuring that the piece of history would be preserved for future generations.