Jerusalem, Israel - Dec. 30, 2025 - 'David the Servant King' explores through music, drama, and a deeply Jewish lens, the rarely told early years of King David, long before his rise to the throne. Conceived by Baltimore olah, Shlomit Koffler Weinreb, the original English-language musical for women, by women, includes many Baltimore olot, and several women with family connections to the city, reflecting the close and ongoing relationship between Baltimore and Israel’s English-speaking cultural scene. To give women in Baltimore and around the world the opportunity to experience the show live from Jerusalem, a livestream broadcast will be available for the Sunday, February 1st performance. 

The musical focuses on David’s childhood as an outcast, rejected by his family and misunderstood by his community. Told partly through the perspective of his mother, Nitzevet, the story traces David’s journey from a marginalized shepherd boy to the servant leader he was destined to become. Rooted in Tanach and Jewish tradition, the production gives voice to a backstory that is often overlooked in mainstream portrayals.

Members of the 'David the Servant King' cast and productionteam with ties to Baltimore. Back row, from left: Linda Friedburg (whose motherand sister live in Baltimore), and olot from Baltimore, Aviva Karpel, andShayna Levine-Hefetz. Front row, from left: Olot from Baltimore, Anne Sperling,Shlomit Koffler Weinreb, Rachel (Taylor) Anolick, Penina Taylor, and TamarRabinowitz.  (Courtesy)

The timing of the production feels especially resonant. In recent years, the figure of David has re-emerged in popular culture, with major film and television adaptations reflecting a renewed interest in the biblical hero. Commentators have pointed to a broader cultural shift—from exile consciousness toward courage, resilience, and spiritual strength.

'David the Servant King' brings David to life from the Jewish perspective. Written and performed by Jewish women living in Israel, the musical offers an interpretation shaped by faith, tradition, and lived experience. Rather than focusing on David’s kingship, the story centers on the formative years that shaped Israel’s greatest king, warrior, and poet.

Audience members who saw the preview concert last year describe the production as both moving and uplifting, with themes that speak powerfully to contemporary women: perseverance in the face of rejection, spiritual growth through hardship, and the belief that purpose can emerge from even the most painful beginnings.

The musical is presented by New Note Productions, a newly founded Israel-based English-language theater company dedicated to creating meaningful cultural works for women, by women. Music and lyrics were composed by Koffler Weinreb, with the book co-written by Avital Macales and Weinreb. Many Baltimoreans fondly remember Weinreb's compositions for the women’s band, Ayelet Hashachar, of which Tamar Rabinowitz, who plays David’s mother, was lead singer. The production is directed by Ayelet Sanay, with musical direction and choral arrangements by Ellen Macales and choreography by Gabriella Friedman. Shayna Levine-Hefetz is the production manager. 

Performances of 'David the Servant King' will be in late January and early February in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh. For more information and details about the February 1, 2026, livestream broadcast, visit DavidServantKing.com