A routine Tuesday morning interview on Kan Reshet Bet set off a brief uproar in Israel’s music scene when singer Nono promoted “Sport,” a new single she recorded with Jimbo J. The song is based on Naomi Shemer’s 1981 “Shir HaMaccabiah,” and the new version includes fresh verses and English lines.
Shemer’s family, which manages her estate, heard the broadcast and said no one had asked for permission to use the song. Her children told the media that “it is not respectful to use a song without permission, which is required by law,” and called it a “blatant violation of moral rights.” They said it was improper for two such respected and successful artists to use Shemer’s song without approval.
Hours later, the dispute was resolved in a joint statement from Shemer’s family and the organizers of Maccabiah 2026. The statement said the new arrangement was created at the request of the Maccabiah, out of artistic respect, deep appreciation for Shemer’s place in Israeli culture, and a desire to connect generations through music.
After direct, open and respectful talks, the sides said there had been an unintentional mistake made in good faith and without any intent to harm Shemer’s rights or musical legacy. The family accepted the explanation of the creative idea behind the project and the desire to honor the past while offering a contemporary artistic interpretation, and the credits were corrected accordingly.
