Rachel Shapira

Rachel Shapira (; born July 25, 1945) is an Israeli songwriter and poet. She rose to prominence after the Six-Day War with her anti-war song "Mah Avarekh" ("With What Shall I Bless?"), set to music by Yair Rosenblum, and went on to write some of the "greatest classics" of Hebrew song. Her songs have been set to music by leading Israeli composers and performed by top Israeli artists.

Early life Shapira was born in 1945 on Kibbutz Shefayim in central Israel. She began writing songs at age 12, putting her own lyrics on Hebrew and secular melodies. Originally titled "Eldad", the song was published by Shapira in a memorial booklet produced by her kibbutz. Performers include Israeli singers Ilanit, Ruhama Raz, Gali Atari, Yardena Arazi, Anat Atzmon, Riki Gal, Margalit Tzan'ani, and Dani Litani, and Hakol Over Habibi, Orna and Moshe Datz, and Hofim.

Musical style Shapira views her songs as "personal ballads" that have a strong connection to the Land of Israel.