Naomi Shemer’s Family Protests Nunu’s New Version of Maccabiah Song

A routine radio interview sparked a legal and cultural storm Tuesday morning after singer Nunu appeared on Kan Reshet Bet to present “Sport,” her new single with Jimbo J.

The song is based on the classic “Maccabiah Song,” written and composed by Naomi Shemer in 1981. The new version reportedly includes new verses and lines in English, alongside material drawn from Shemer’s original song.

But relatives of the late songwriter, who manage her estate, said they were surprised to hear the new version on the broadcast and claimed that no one had asked for their approval before using the song.

Their response was swift and sharply worded.

“It is disrespectful to use the song without receiving permission, which is required by law,” Shemer’s children said in a statement. “This is a blatant violation of moral rights. It is not appropriate for two such respected and successful artists to use a song by the late Naomi Shemer without approval.”

As of now, no official response has been issued by Nunu or Jimbo J.

The dispute places the new single in uncertain territory before it has had time to settle into the Israeli music scene. What was meant to be a summer release built around a familiar national song has instead turned into a fight over permission, artistic adaptation and respect for one of Israel’s best-known songwriters.

The question now is whether the song will be shelved, altered or cleared through a last-minute agreement with the estate. For the moment, the controversy is only beginning.