Nourish Your Biblical Roots with Yael Eckstein

Why do you think people of faith celebrate the most joyful holidays during the darkest time of the year? The Jewish people just did, having finished their annual Hanukkah festivities, celebrating the Festival of Lights.This isn’t not a coincidence. We celebrate light during this dark time of year because only against that backdrop of darkness can we truly appreciate light.In this special holiday episode, host Yael Eckstein looks at this season during which we remember miracles that happened in Bible times, as well as miracles that are still happening today! As we’ll learn in this powerful episode, no matter how dark things may be, we can still find the light.Listen now!And learn more about the holidays that God’s people will celebrate in the year to come.

How do miracles happen? A miracle just takes one step of faith and God takes care of the rest! And that’s what today’s episode is all about.Yael Eckstein looks at the Hanukkah story of the miracle of the oil. When rededicating the Temple in ancient times, God’s people lit the menorah on faith alone because they knew they didn’t have enough pure oil for it to burn more than one day. And guess what? God performed a miracle, and the flame lasted for eight days until they could get more pure oil!This Hanukkah, all God wants us to do is light that first candle and He will do the rest. Just as the Hanukkah story has inspired the Jewish people throughout history, God’s miracles in our own lives ignite hope and let our faith burn bright. Listen now!Learn more about this season of miracles.

Does your family have any special holiday traditions during this festive time of year?Most of us do, including Yael Eckstein, who shares her special family traditions for Hanukkah. Yael explains how this holiday inspires faith and light that have kept the Jewish people hopeful during the darkest of times in their history. And Hanukkah’s message of light is still so relevant for both Jews and Christians today.So join Yael as she shares Hanukkah traditions that celebrate God as our light. And then, let’s all—as people of faith—share the light of that faith with someone we know who is struggling this holy season.This Hanukkah, let’s remember all the light God brings to our lives and how this holiday has inspired faith in those who desperately need it.Learn more about this season of light.

Hanukkah, a season of God’s light and miracles, is probably one of the most well-known Jewish holidays, primarily because of its proximity to Christmas. But do you know what this special season celebrates?Today, Yael tells us a miraculous story of courage and faith in God that was a huge turning point in history for the Jewish people. She turns to Exodus 15:11: “Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” Those biblical words became the battle cry for all the group of God’s children who became known as the Maccabees.Even though they were much weaker and smaller in number than the Greek army, which at the time of the Hanukkah story was the mightiest army in the world, the Maccabees served our mighty God. In doing so, they showed what courage and faith can accomplish.So, what’s Hanukkah’s spiritual lesson for us today? Every small step of courage we take can impact the life of someone else. We never know what miracles a courageous act can create. Hanukkah is a reminder that a single act of bravery can be turned into one of God’s miracles!Learn more about this season of miracles and light.

Does you ever feel like you’re drifting through life? Sometimes it can feel like we’re on autopilot, going through our daily routines automatically, living according to our whims or our circumstances in the moment, never really choosing what we want.But on today’s podcast, we’re going to talk about what we can do each day in order to get closer to the life we really want—and the life that God wants for us. If we live life aimlessly, we probably won’t like where our lives end up. But if we’re clear on where we want to be, we can make a plan to get there.Today, Yael reminds us that we are never alone: God is always with us, guiding us and loving us, every moment of our lives.Today’s episode looks at the Bible passage that decided from whom Israel would come. Learn more about the 12 Tribes of Israel in our Learn Center.

Everyone wants a beautiful home. And today, we have no shortage of information about how to enhance the places we live to make them more beautiful and more comfortable physically. But how can we enhance our homes spiritually?In today’s episode, Yael Eckstein looks at the Book of Genesis to discover how the miracles God blessed Sarah and Rebekah with transformed their homes into sacred spaces. For centuries, Jewish homes have used three ritual objects—inspired by the biblical homes of Sarah and Rebekah—to elevate their homes spiritually.Listen now to discover how these practices can turn your own home into a more sacred and godly space.Visit our Learn Center to find out more about the biblical practice of tzedakah.

Prayer is our greatest source of power—a direct conduit to our almighty God. But when it seems that our prayers have gone unanswered, it can be tempting to doubt the power of our prayers.On this episode, Yael Eckstein looks at what the Bible says about the most effective way to pray. As Yael explains, our prayers can become more powerful when we pray for other, with others, and when we keep on praying.These insights are simple, yet they’re profound. And as Yael shares from her own life—they work! With so much to pray for these days, it’s reassuring to know that we speak directly to the Master of the Universe… and that He hears every single one of our prayers! What do you know about prayer? Take our quiz and find out!

Shortly before Israel was plunged into two years of war by the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, 2023, Yael had the privilege to sit down with former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.Much like Yael taking up the mantle of her abba, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Lapid followed in his own father’s footsteps, as a writer and a politician. Also a prolific writer, he wrote the posthumous memoir of his father, Tommy Lapid, an Israeli journalist, politician, and Holocaust survivor.And here, he shares one of the key lessons from the Holocaust—that every Israeli has a duty to make sure the Jewish state always exists. Lapid relates that his father’s story of surviving the bloodbath of the Jewish ghetto in Budapest is a stark reminder that he “cannot live in a world in which I don’t have a place to go.” In sharing his father’s story, the former prime minister says he is telling the story of the Jewish people.But The Fellowship and Rabbi Eckstein also have a special connection to the Lapid family, which Yair shares in this warm, insightful, and enlightening conversation between two people who have devoted their lives to serving Israel and the Jewish people.Find out how much you know about other Israeli figures by taking our quiz!

Have you ever wondered why it seems God is always testing us? If you have, then this episode is for you.Just like when we were kids in school, life is full of tests—and most people still want to avoid them! Today, Yael Eckstein looks at Abraham’s tests in the Book of Genesis to discover the purpose of life’s tests—to turn us into the best versions of ourselves that we can be. Then, gain a whole new understanding of the reason why we are tested in life, illustrated by Yael’s own experiences.Instead of running away from God’s tests, let’s try and look forward to them!Test your knowledge of the father of our faith who was tested by God by taking our quiz on Abraham.

Before the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, 2023, and the two years of war that they plunged the nation of Israel into, Yael had the welcoming of inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the podcast.This week, as Israel and those who stand for her look to a peaceful and renewed future, we’d like to share Yael and PM Netanyahu’s wide-ranging conversation about Israel, and the friendships between Jews and Christians, as well as the United States and the Jewish State.As PM Netanyahu reflects, the story of Israel is a parable for all humanity. If the Jewish people can come back from the Holocaust and reconstitute their ancient homeland after 3,500 years and rebuild that nation into a leading world power, then “there’s hope for all humanity, for all people.”Three words—from his own father, a renowned historian—have influenced the Prime Minister throughout his resilient career: “History, history, history. My father told me if you don’t understand how you got here, you are not going to understand how to go forward. And in Israel, history begins with three words: Bible, Bible, Bible. There’s no meaning to the Jewish people without the Bible; there’s no meaning to our future without our past.”When it comes to the history of modern Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu says, “In the course of the birth of Israel, the rise of modern Israel, we have not had better friends than our Christian friends around the world. It’s a tremendous partnership, which I deeply, deeply value.”For anyone who loves Israel, you won’t want to miss this insightful and inspiring conversation!

As the High Holy Days come to a close, Jews around the world spend one last day in an intense celebration with God before resuming their normal routines.Simchat Torah, a day whose name means “Rejoicing in the Torah,” is unlike any other observance we experience in synagogue.As Yael Eckstein describes in this podcast, the entire congregation—from the youngest children to the oldest adults—takes out the Torah scroll and joins in a never-ending circle of dancing and singing. The celebration marks the completion of reading through the Torah, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, before the reading cycle begins again.But the lesson of Simchat Torah lasts all year long, Yael teaches. This joyful day is a reminder that the way to stay close to God and transform inspiration into action throughout the year is through His Word. Listen now!Visit our Learning Center to learn more about Simchat Torah.

Do you know the one holy day that the entire world will celebrate in messianic times?According to the biblical prophet Zechariah, it’s the Festival of Tabernacles, or as it’s called in Hebrew, Sukkot (Zechariah 4:16).Unity among all of God’s children is a major theme of this joyous biblical celebration. And this week, Yael looks to the lessons of Sukkot to find practical ways that bring us together.In our world that often feels increasingly divided, Sukkot’s spirit of unity can bring goodness, pleasantness, and blessings to all of our lives.Learn more about Sukkot by visiting our Learn Center.And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

Have you ever found yourself needing to apologize to someone… and dreading it? Or have you been hurt by someone who refused to apologize for something they did to you?Saying “I’m sorry” can be one of the hardest things to do.On this podcast episode about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, Yael Eckstein explores how those two words—“I’m sorry”—relate to the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Admitting our wrongdoings, committing to change, and moving forward is what this biblical holy day is all about.When we say, “I’m sorry”—and when we mean it—God has mercy and He forgives. And those two little words have the power to heal relationships and change the world for the better.Learn more about the High Holy Days by visiting our Learn Center.And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

In the Holy City of Jerusalem—and in synagogues around the world, the sounds of the shofar have been heard for the past month. For thousands of years, his biblical trumpet has been calling people to reflect, repent, and return to God.On this podcast, Yael Eckstein continues her exploration of the Jewish High Holy Days by focusing on one of the main rituals of this holiest season: the sounding of the shofar.Yael explores why the Jewish people use a shofar to prepare themselves for the new year, and how its many sounds are a call to self-reflection and self-improvement, to repentance, and to return to God.Join Yael as she explains the symbolism and messages of the shofar, and how its sounds through each of our lives, all year round.Learn more about the High Holy Days by visiting our Learn Center.And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

As people usher in a New Year on January 1 with parties and celebrations, how many are thinking about repentance? It’s probably not very many.But when Jewish New Year is welcomed on Rosh Hashanah, the main focus is on repentance, or teshuvah, which means to “return” to God. The sound of the shofar—the biblical trumpet made from a ram’s horn—calls us to reflect on the past twelve months, to fix anything in our lives that hasn’t been helpful, and to return to God—who is waiting for us with open arms.In this special Rosh Hashanah episode, Yael Eckstein takes a biblical look at repentance, its significance for all of us as people of faith, and how returning to God will nourish our souls and transform us into the people we are meant to be. Listen Now!And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

Sometimes in life, our faith might seem strong, but our fears seem even stronger.Maybe you’ve tried to cling to faith over the past year, but still look to the future with trepidation. Here’s the thing—it’s not easy to stand confidently in faith and in peace when life seems scary and uncertain. So what do we do? How do we strengthen our faith?Today, Yael Eckstein turns to the Bible and Jewish teachings for answers! Knowing that we should put all our trust in God and actually having faith that God is looking out for us are two very different things.When we lean on God, we can stay standing through anything. Listen now!And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

Every year, Jewish people begin a special spiritual journey that’s been taken by God’s children for millennia.On this podcast, Yael Eckstein shares how this can be a journey for us all—Christians and Jews alike. Preparing for the High Holy Days is a time when we can connect with God and with ourselves.As this holy season approaches, Yael will look at: how the sound of the shofar awakens the soul; how Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, teaches us about repentance; how Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, teaches us about forgiveness; how Sukkot, the biblical Festival of Tabernacles, brings unity; and how Simchat Torah brings God and His word into the new year.But first, Yael begins our journey by looking at the three spiritual paths—repentance, prayer, and charity—that begin the High Holy Days journey. Listen now!And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

You’ve probably heard lots of one-month promises. One month to lose weight. One month to learn a language. One month to straighten up your house or straighten up your finances or straighten up your life!But did you know that The Chosen People have clung to a very special one-month promise for thousands of years?During the Hebrew month of Elul, which we’re in right now, there’s an ancient biblical Jewish practice—one that Jesus likely participated in. During this month, the Jewish people prepare themselves spiritually for the High Holy Days, which begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and conclude on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. For generations of Jewish people, this special month has long laid the groundwork for real and lasting change.And today, Yael looks to the Bible to explain how this month can connect us to God, nourish our souls, and make spiritual changes that last, setting us up for a successful year to come and a blessed life ahead!And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

Have you ever made a choice just to please or impress someone else? If we’re honest, we’ve all done that at one time or another.But what would our lives look like if other peoples’ opinions truly didn’t matter to us? Would our priorities be different? Would we spend our time differently? Would we make different choices?On today’s podcast, Yael Eckstein explores the wise advice that Moses gave the Israelites on this very topic. Yael shares how this advice transformed her life and led her to where she is today—as the leader of the largest philanthropic organization in Israel, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.If we shift our focus from pleasing others to pleasing God, we can be free to live our best and most authentic lives. Listen now!And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

Today, legendary singer, songwriter, and friend of Israel, Pat Boone, joins me to talk about Pat’s life and work—and his role in helping launch The Fellowship onto the national stage.Join us as Pat discuss his important bond with my father, Fellowship Founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, of blessed memory—a friendship that dates back to the early 1990s. After the Iron Curtain fell, my abba approached Pat and asked him to co-host a program, appealing for Christians to help fund the freeing and transporting of Russian Jews to Israel. Pat didn’t hesitate, and the Christian community immediately responded with an outpouring of donations and support. It’s a partnership and friendship that has only grown over the years!Join me and Pat Boone as we discuss this lasting friendship and Pat’s love for Israel and The Fellowship.