A Q&A with Chaya Toron, the Artist & Moon Enthusiast Behind Our 5787 Hebrew Calendar

Each year, as the At The Well team crafts our Hebrew calendar, we work to bring the power and beauty of Jewish time into physical form. This year, we wanted to return to one of the core symbols at the heart of Jewish time: the moon! 🌕

Every week, members of the At The Well Collective share photos of the moon from around the world: a kind of immersive, collaborative art project. Most are iPhone pics, whether blurry or majestic — and they are all a testament to someone’s awareness of the moon’s presence in our lives, and belonging to a greater whole of people who live by these ancient lunar rhythms.

‍We commissioned the brilliant Judaica artist Chaya Toron to create watercolor renditions of 14 of these photos to highlight within our 5787 Hebrew Calendar to life. In the conversation below, you’ll get to meet Chaya and learn more about the intention and craft behind each artwork.

The 5787 Hebrew Calendar is available on our shop for a limited time.

‍At The Well: First of all, we have been so delighted to work with you on bringing this year’s calendar to life! The moon holds such beauty in all of its phases, with its ancient spiritual resonance. What excited you most about this project?

Chaya Toron: I was thrilled to be part of this project! When I heard “moon illustrations”, I was instantly sold. As a Jewish woman, I feel very connected to Rosh Chodesh, the moon, and the natural cycles and rhythm of the world. My daughter’s name is actually Levana, which means “moon” in Hebrew. This project felt deeply aligned right from the start!

ATW: How did you approach the invitation to create artwork based on other women’s photographs? 

Chaya: I loved the opportunity to work from these women’s photographs; it felt like we were all doing this together. The images were breathtaking, and to think that we all have the ability to walk outside, look up, and experience the moon together is a gift.

‍ATW: What do you hope people notice, or feel, when they spend time with these images? 

Chaya: I hope they can remember to get inspired by the moon, by nature, by what’s just outside your door. Sometimes what’s best for you, is right near you.

ATW: The Hebrew calendar follows the rhythms of the moon, of course. Do cycles in nature influence the way you think about creativity or your own life? 

Chaya:  My creativity is forever changing, and over the years I’ve learned that when I’m in low moments creatively, that really means I’m just on the cusp of a new idea, a new glimmer of inspiration. The moon is a literal metaphor for creative life, which is comforting to me. Although I’ve always been a creative person, in the beginning of my career as a professional artist, I used to despair when I had dips in my creative output. Now I know that it is just a moment, a phase that passes. 

ATW: What are you currently exploring or learning through your art? What does your creative practice look like on a typical day?

Chaya:  Right now I’m learning that it’s okay to wait for my creative energy to reboot. It’s hot, it’s summer, I’m running to and from my car with sweat on my brow, and holding babies on my hips. I'm a young mother, who usually puts her babies to sleep and settles down with tea and some music to paint. Right now, I don’t have as much capacity to be creating new things, and that’s okay. I'm actually gathering some inspiration and sketching loosely for a new collection of artwork that I’m excited about. This “downtime” and summer nights are just part of this process. I hope you all will be cheering me on when I start to apply my ideas that are simmering. I tend to share my painting process on my Instagram stories, @paintsbychaya.

ATW: Is there a Hebrew month, holiday, or seasonal transition that you find especially inspiring?

My personal favorite month and transition time is Elul. It is my birthday month, so that’s to be expected, but I love that Elul calls in themes of forgiveness, self-reflection, and the delicate moments before the “high” of the High Holidays.

When Elul comes around, I feel that these themes are so tangible to me, close to me, attainable. I can forgive myself, return to myself, so that I can connect to others and live my life to the fullest. Over the years I’ve taken time to learn about what each month’s special energy according to the Torah brings to the table, and I like to apply it to my self-growth.

ATW: Watercolor often requires a balance between intention and letting go. Does that dynamic hold any spiritual meaning for you?

Chaya:  Oh yes! I’m a Virgo. I deeply believe that G-d created me to be an artist so I can practice these two ends of the spectrum. I discovered watercolor a few years ago after drawing and painting more realistically, and took to it right away. There is a freedom to watching the pigment and ink slowly spread and seep into paper, and being able to interact with it, steer it in gentle ways. 

ATW: As people hang this calendar in their homes and move through the year with it, what blessing or hope would you like to offer them?

Chaya:  You are magical, you are light, and you are forever changing, just like the moon.
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‍Chaya Toron is a Judaica painter and watercolor artist based in Hollywood, Florida, where she lives with her husband and two girls. Rooted deeply in her Jewish heritage, Chaya’s art reflects the soul of her culture through soft pigments, layered rituals, and occasional bursts of expressive color. Learn more: chayatoronstudio.com.

We're also deeply grateful to the At The Well Collective members whose photos are featured in this calendar: Ali Cohen, Arie Figueroa, Kathryn Heller, Abigail Levitt, S. Lovett, Chaya Merage, Hila P., Katie Rice-Guter, Carly Sachs, Dona Standel, Lily Swanbrow Becker, Gail Vogt, & Miriam Zaga.