{
  "id": 5265925,
  "title": "Author of postcard sent to Naomi Shemer praising 'Jerusalem of Gold' identified after 59 years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/author-of-postcard-sent-to-naomi-shemer-praising-jerusalem-of-gold",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-03T06:48:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/history/article-907177"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "“Now the time has come for it to be at the National Library,\" Bar-Oz said to Ynet. \"It must be there, especially for the grandchildren and for those who say, ‘We'd rather die than enlist.’”",
  "key_points": [
    "Israeli songwriter Naomi Shemer received praise from Aharon Bar-Oz in 1967",
    "Bar-Oz, Six-Day War veteran, wrote postcard while on frontlines",
    "Bar-Oz's letter, revealing his identity, donated to National Library"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The identification of Aharon Bar-Oz as the author of the postcard to Naomi Shemer resolves a decades-long mystery and adds a personal chapter to the history of Israel's iconic song.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}