Spotlight from the Adama Exhibition: Chani Cohen Zada

I’ve had the privilege of working with Chani for many years on various projects, and her art never ceases to move me. Her creative voice is deeply personal and spiritual — seamlessly weaving together faith, place, and artistic expression. Chani was born in the USA but grew up in Israel and has lived in the town of Talmon for many years. Drawing inspiration from the Torah, Hasidic writings, and the teachings of Yemima, Chani uses painting as both a craft and a form of inner work. Each painting—whether a still life, landscape, or symbolic composition—reflects her belief that the harmony created through thousands of brushstrokes mirrors the delicate harmony of human life and relationships. Beyond her painting, Chani writes a blog, teaches art and conscious development according to the Yemima method, and lectures on art and Judaism. Her four works in the Adama exhibition — oil and watercolor paintings — continue her exploration of identity, land, and faith. In the powerful work “With Fire You Will Rebuild Jerusalem”, Chani demonstrates her belief that Israel’s military actions are actually the hand of God leading the Jewish people to the era of the third temple. The works “The House in Sde Ephraim”, “Like Thorns in Your Eyes”, and “Settlement in Gofna are part of a new series for in which Chani follows processes taking place in various landscapes across Israel, attempting to understand the forces at play—what builds and what destroys, and what role the human being holds within it all. Each piece opens a quiet, poetic dialogue between the personal and the collective, between earth and spirit.