Menachem Shemi was born 1897 in Russia.  In 1920 Shemi was a founder of the Association of painters and sculptors in Israel, an organizer of the ''Migdal David'' Exhibition and a founder of "Artists'' Colony, Safed.  Shemi was also one of the designers of the sets for Habimah and Ohel Theatres.
During the years 1920-45 he was in Paris.  He served in the British Army.  Shemi was educated at the Odessa Academy of Art in 1913 and the Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem. Menachem taught from 1920-22 at Tiberias. He studied at Bezalel and Later Joined the jewish battalion.