From Texas to Tzfat: The Spiritual Journey of Chaya Toron
In this intimate interview with Havurah, Rachel Rumstein sits down with beloved Judaica artist Chaya Toron. Chaya shares her journey as an artist, the inspiration behind her work, and her mission to bring beauty and holiness to the world through creativity.
Rachel Rumstein: Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed by Havurah. You're such a pillar of the Jewish art scene on Instagram.
Chaya Toron: It's really exciting.
RR: It's awesome. So I guess the natural next question is like where did you start? What inspired you to even try the social media route? Can you point to a specific moment that was like, okay, yeah, like this is something that I need to be doing?
CT: I’m Chasidic, I was born and raised Chabad so everything in my life has intention so I think that the career that I’ve chosen for myself, being an artist, I view it as being a very deep work and mission that I’m bringing Judaism to the forefront of our culture and integrating those things so social media and being on a platform like that was so natural to me.
RR: Your Judaism guides your art. I wonder if there's a specific ideal or concept that you connect to or that you really like to infuse in your work? Is there a person in your life or a teaching that you infuse in your work?
CT: For Chasidic philosophy, I’m actually named after his (the Rebbe’s) wife, and my husband’s name is Menachem Mendel. So we have some real Chabad roots! I think the biggest idea that I grew up with and that I really believe is elevating the mundane. When I come from the perspective of understanding my physical talent of creating something is a deep work,that everything that I’m doing is spiritual. I’m elevating something so mundane, so materialistic. When you have the intention and come from the space of thinking that you’re doing holy work, that’s the craziest part. I think people can feel that, and it’s very exciting. I think Jewish people are starting to deeply value what art is.
RR: It sounds like you're sort of mimicking the divine act of taking something that's formless and bringing it into form.
CT: Absolutely, and that’s what the Lubavitcher Rebbe is all about. Hanukkah, during the lighting of the Menorah, the Rebbe, just when broadcasting was starting, pushed to have the menorah lighting broadcasted to the whole world in different locations. There was a big backlash from all the other sects of Chasidic Jews and other people saying, “what do you mean? You’re going to put holy things on TV?” And the rebbe was very instrumental in that blend and you can see how it’s affecting Jewry and so many people. I grew up in Texas in the middle of nowhere, because my parents were Chabad emissaries and so that definitely shaped my ability to believe in choosing something that seemed more of a different career than spiritual work like being a Rabbi or Rebbetzin, I still have a lot of intentions.
RR: Wow, so not only is elevating the mundane like innate within your philosophy but it's also really reflected in your work.
CT: Yes, very much. That’s why I focus on Judaic themes, but I think even my abstract work, which non-Jewish collectors are purchasing and people are seeing. When people buy your work they are investing in you and your story, and I think people could still relate to that even if they’re not Jewish.
RR: Is there a tension between producing work for personal purposes versus commercial work, how do you navigate that tension if it exists for you?
CT: It exists, and I think that I still struggle with it but it becomes more manageable when you understand the hard parts of being an artist and that tension is a part of it all and you don’t focus on it so much it becomes easier. The way that I deal with that tangibly is to always have something I’m working on for fun and to always make sure I’m feeling that part of myself. It’s mental health work and about being in tune with yourself.
RR: What advice would you give aspiring Jewish artists who are looking to break into the scene and specifically around that balance of their Jewish identities versus what might be expected from them from the art world or from a professional perspective?
CT: For Jewish artists, I feel like the space is very small and intimate which is wonderful. I love that and think it’s so special. I think that people need to get in touch with what their message is and that will reflect in their work. We are always learning from each other and I think that there is so much power in everyone finding their own groove. That’s my message to all the people getting started, learn from the people you aspire to and find your own way. We’re going to be so much stronger as a unit if everybody gets in touch with their own creativity and that’s very hard to do.
RR: I studied Kabbalah for fun, I mean also academically, but mostly for fun. I never really thought about that, that element of the things that we're attracted to are reflections of some inner schemas that are related to the metaphysical imprints that we have that are innately divine. That's a crazy concept that I've never heard before and it’s really interesting to me.
CT: Sometimes I see in the non-Jewish space, the slogan: “find your why”. If you can connect to a very deep reason of why, then that’s creativity and your creativity is you. If you connect with your creativity then you’ll produce good work and good things and then it will all come together.
RR: Would you be open to sharing a little bit of your “why”?
CT: Yeah, definitely. I think the same thing comes up for me, making the physical world into something spiritual. It doesn’t mean I’m living on the cloud and floating up into space, even though sometimes I do that. But, the idea that we live amongst all this materialism. I live in Miami, it’s definitely going on. Especially when you’re in the non-Jewish art world, I really feel like I just want to make an impact and I am enough. For abstract works I actually read and meditated on the idea of “Bishvili Nivra Ha'Olam,” from creation. For me, G-d created the world so I think that sometimes scares people because it feels so selfish but really it’s the most selfless thing. G-d created the world for you and if G-d gave you a talent to paint, or create or have that eye, then you must use it. That’s the holiest work, is being able to understand that it’s not just for you. It’s for other people to and to make an impact.
RR: Wow, that's incredible. And I'm sure that our writers and our poets and our musicians can also all take from that idea and really use that too.
CT: But it’s a little scary, right? How many creative people don’t share, or feel like it’s just really hard to express. Also the artist block and why it’s so hard to get in touch with that sometimes. It’s not easy because G-d didn’t want it to be easy. If it was easy then it wouldn’t be so special.
RR: This is a really interesting perspective on artists block or writer's block. Everyone experiences it, so to hear it from a spiritual perspective that maybe people don't really get it.
CT: Well, it’s a part of the process of being an artist and the creativity and I feel like the artist’s block fuels me. Once you just stay and ride the wave, it rides out. You’re only stuck there if you're angry about it.
RR: I'm curious if you can reflect a little bit on how art showed up for you in your childhood.
CT: I was always a very dramatic little girl, shows and plays and very expressive. That manifested itself in cooking, baking, photography and anything you can think of. I actually started doing photography when I was 10 years old and then I decided I was going to start a business. So, at 12 or 13 years old, I started charging! I guess I really valued myself. It worked out for me, I had a few people, and sometimes I’ll see people still using those pictures from back then. I think that was the first time I put business and creativity together. I was always drawing and doing fine art, photography was something I thought I was going to go towards and then in high school I started picking up painting and really getting into that space, which is when I first started selling art.
RR: How did your family feel about all this?
CT: Very supportive. I think they didn’t know a lot, I didn’t come from an art family. I don’t have the education behind me, sometimes you grow up with the infrastructure of, for example, a mom loving art or a father or grandmother. I didn’t grow up with that, or understand the value of it, I just knew I loved it. When I realized someone else valued it, I was like “oh my goodness, maybe there’s more!” That led to me learning more about that and spending time in Israel and seeing that the Judaica space was a big space. I spent a year in Tzfat, where people come from all over the world to experience spirituality and art. And I thought to myself, “wow, this is something I want”.
RR: Wow, yeah, that space of spirituality through art, I can imagine, was so impactful for you.
CT: Yeah, I used to bring my canvases to the old city in Tzfat and ditch class. I used to paint and all these visitors would stop by. I was living in another world, the best world. I loved it. I feel it too in my Miami home.
RR: I’m curious about what’s coming up next for you and what you’re excited about.
CT: I really feel like I’m at a pivotal moment. Over the last year, I sort of blew up. I’m trying to rationalize it all, but in the future I want to be able to bridge the gap between the Jewish community and modern art world. I think that it’s calling my name, and I’m not sure in what capacity I want to bridge the two. I’m trying to get other artists involved and see the young people and artists and have people to aspire to. I didn’t have that, or anyone to look up to. It’s a new age and we’re so new to it as a community. I’m not sure what’s coming for me, but if anything comes, I’m ready to ride the wave and I’m here for it.
RR: You really want young Jewish artists to see their Judaism as an asset to their work and to be valued specifically for it. Whereas there may not have been that there may not have been space for that in the past, you're looking for spaces where Judaism can be an asset.
CT: Yeah, and also creating the market and education. I did a few exhibitions the past few months and a lot of people came which was huge. I asked them how they feel about the art, and a lot of their reactions were “I’m not interested in buying, I’m just looking”. I had a moment where I thought of how much work there was to be done to teach others about this incredible gift that G-d has created– beauty. Beauty was created by the divine, like flowers and natural landscapes and the intricacy of nature. So people need to learn more about the value. The idea that it [coming to the exhibitions] was so new for people blew my mind, it motivated me.
RR: That's incredible. I can feel the authenticity of your energy. You have the most incredible energy.
CT: Thank you. I do have hard times, when I feel depleted or tired. I question what I’m doing this for and am avoidant of my talent. It feels larger than life, which is my name- Chaya. I realize that ignoring it isn’t living authentically. It’s about being aware of all the things you were given, the good and the bad, integrating them and sharing that with other people.
Transcribed by Daniella Messer.
