On Tuesday afternoon, January 21, this writer had the privilege of attending a beautiful sold-out performance titled “Somebody’s Boy” at the Jerusalem Theater, produced by Regal Productions for women and girls to benefit the chesed organization Zir Chemed [pronounced Tzir Chemed]. This annual professional production included several night shows and one matinee.
The audience first viewed a video clip of the producers of the program in France experiencing the ambience and atmosphere of the setting of the show.
Next, Chayelle Regal, Co-Founder of Regal Productions, welcomed everyone and spoke about the situation in Israel with mixed feelings, which include joy at the hostages release and sorrow that so many are still in captivity and that the war is not over. She led everyone in reciting T’hilim. She mentioned that in case of a siren, the theater was a safe room in which to remain. How sad to have to include that fact in the introduction.
The show is based on a novel by Hector Malot, Nobody’s Boy. The original script by Regal Productions 2024, 2025, based on “Sans Famille” (1878) by Hector Malot, is the story of an adopted French boy named Remi and his journey toward finding his real family, which includes conflicts that arise and caring people he meets along the way. The role of Remi is stunningly performed by Yael Goldwag, age 10, who lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh. The lively melodic music is written by Chana Wurtzel (2024, 2025).
The show includes exquisitely choregraphed dances with talented dancers who gracefully glide and twirl, casting a spell over the audience. Watching the perfectly executed pirouettes, tour jetes, leaps, and arabesques is mesmerizing. The costumes are colorful and eye-catching and the acting is heartfelt, pulling you into the story. The lighting and scenery are enchanting. The music and singing are extraordinary, and the beautiful message of the play, like a lilting melody, sings right to your heart. Everyone is a somebody and everyone has his or her own special “song” to share.
Regal Productions was started by Chayelle Regal and Rikki Reichman, a pair of friends from London who always enjoyed putting on plays together. From the very first show, it was decided that Regal Productions would raise funds for Zir Chemed, an organization that helps couples with fertility issues to realize their dream of starting a family. Regal Productions has staged quality musical theater productions for Jewish women for over 20 years. They perform live shows in Yerushalayim, New York, and all over Europe. The cast and crew are all volunteers from Beit Shemesh and other locations in Israel.
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Zir Chemed was established in 1996 by Rabbi Nachum Tenenbaum zt”l, with the aim of providing couples awaiting a child a supportive environment for the duration of their hopeful journey. The center accompanies couples every step of the way up until the birth of a child.
It was the pioneer in bringing an awareness of infertility and a message of hope to couples in the Chareidi sector. Throughout the years, Zir Chemed has had the privilege of helping over 14,000 couples! This non-profit was established with the encouragement and endorsement of g’dolei Yisrael – with the most notable among them being: Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, Rav Y. M. Halberstam, and the Gerrer Rebbe.
Zir Chemed’s supportive approach works along three tracks.
Medical Center
Emotional Support Center
Social Center
Zir Chemed’s medical support is accompanied by expert halachic guidance.
Unwilling to leave couples to grope around for answers in a complex medical reality, the organization presents all fertility questions to g’dolei ha’dor on their behalf.
Zir Chemed’s social center extends a warm, supportive network that help couples through difficult times. The aim is to alleviate the burden of waiting, while providing hours of therapeutic relaxation – a state of mind that has proven highly significant in the wait for a child. The organization subsidizes treatments and tests, and it makes every effort to continue developing additional services for the benefit of couples awaiting a child.
By Susie Garber