Biography

Shalom Ben Yosef Shabazi
Real name: Rabbi Shalom ben Yosef Shabbazi (Arabic: سالم الشبزي, Hebrew: רב שלום בן יוסף שבזי)
Jewish poet from Yemen (1619-1720) and now considered the 'Poet of Yemen'. Many of his poems have been turned into songs by popular Israeli artists. The example that is best known internationally is Ofra Haza's interpretation of אם ננעלו (Im Nin'alu). Other artists who have performed songs based on his poetry include Zohar Argov, Gila Beshari, Shoshana Damari, Shlomit Levi, Gadi Seri and the folk-metal band Orphaned Land.