Yael Eckstein, President and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), is a woman who has many complex and demanding roles. She spends time leading, teaching, and being both a mother and a bridge-builder.
Based in Israel, Eckstein oversees a global humanitarian organization with a mission to unite Christians and Jews. IFCJ also provides life-saving support to those in need, such as Holocaust survivors, orphans, and victims of terror.
In her podcast, Nourish Your Biblical Roots, Eckstein opens up about how her faith shapes her leadership and personal life. Through her teachings, she offers profound insights into lessons like forgiveness, renewal, and growth, reminding listeners that everyone can choose to start their day on a positive note.
Winning the Morning: Lessons from Leviticus
In a recent episode of her podcast titled “How to Win the Day,” Eckstein focuses on Leviticus 6:10, which describes the priests’ daily task of removing ashes from the altar. For her, this simple yet meaningful ritual symbolizes letting go of the past to embrace the opportunities of a new day.
“God instructs Moses to command Aaron and his sons…regarding their obligation as priests. This [was] the first thing that they had to do each day. They had to remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire had consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar.”
Living in Israel gives Eckstein a unique perspective on these ancient teachings. She used to live in America, and while the verse was still powerful then, it cannot compare to the feeling she gets while reading it in the Holy Land itself.
“Every time I hear a verse that talks about the Tabernacle [or] the Temple…it feels so much more tangible to me reading it in Israel,” she says.
Eckstein makes regular visits to the Western Wall, where she reflects on the Temple Mount and connects with biblical traditions. She describes walking down the stairs to the Wall, taking in the sweeping view of the sacred site, and envisioning the priests performing their sacred duties.
Jewish tradition says the smoke from sacrifices rose in a straight column despite the wind—a daily miracle Eckstein finds moving. She believes this connection to the physical and spiritual significance of the Temple strengthens her understanding of biblical teachings, giving her a perspective she didn’t have while growing up.
Applying Ancient Lessons to Modern Life
Eckstein draws a direct line between the priests’ rituals and how she approaches each day.
“Before we begin our day, we need to really let go of the previous day. We need to make sure that we don’t let any baggage from the past weigh us down in the present,” she says.
This philosophy extends to her nightly prayer time, a tradition where Jewish individuals forgive anyone who may have wronged them. The prayer, translated from Hebrew, goes as follows:
“Master of the universe, I hereby forgive anyone who has angered or antagonized me or who sinned against me, whether against my body, my property, my honor, or against anything of mine, whether he did so accidentally, willfully, carelessly, or purposefully…I forgive everyone.”
Eckstein explains that reciting this prayer every night allows her to release negative emotions and wake up with a clean slate, ready to embrace the new day ahead.
Personal Stories of Forgiveness
One of Eckstein’s most poignant stories to drive home her point involves her young daughter Sapir. During a visit to a candy store when the girl was just three years old, she became upset when she couldn’t get a second piece of candy. Despite her initial tears and protest, she quickly climbed into her mother’s lap, offering hugs instead of holding onto her frustration.
“It was such a powerful moment for me,” Eckstein recalls. Her daughter’s ability to forgive and move on taught her the importance of starting anew without harboring resentment. It’s a lesson she’s carried with her even to this day.
As a mother of four, Eckstein often finds parallels between her family life and her role as a leader, noting that her children are her greatest teachers. “Bedtime is very fun and great bonding time, but it’s also a little bit difficult sometimes,” she admits, sharing how feelings of guilt over moments of impatience can linger at the end of a long day.
However, as each morning breaks, she makes a conscious effort to focus on the joy and blessings her kids bring, rather than dwelling on the past.
A Leader Focused on the Growth of IFCJ
Eckstein applies this same mindset of starting fresh to her work at IFCJ, where she chases growth and continuous improvement. Under her leadership, the organization raises $230 million annually, assisting over 2 million people worldwide every year.
IFCJ’s aliyah program has helped more than 770,000 Jews immigrate to Israel, fulfilling their dream of returning to their biblical homeland. Despite these impressive achievements, Eckstein refuses to rest on past success.
“Another thing to keep in mind is that if yesterday was a great day, or if you reached a great success in the past, you can’t be complacent today. You still need to grow. We’ve been able to help so many people. But what I’m careful for is to always focus on growth, to always strive towards better, to always pray and take action and do my best to help even more people,” she says.
The organization’s impact has garnered positive IFCJ reviews from supporters across the globe, who praise its humanitarian work and its commitment to building understanding between communities. By expanding on the vision her father started, Eckstein continues to strengthen existing bonds while building new ones.
While she has brought the organization significant growth, it has also drawn curiosity. Many current and potential donors take to the Internet, searching for terms like “Yael’s Eckstein salary” to better understand how nonprofit leaders like her manage their responsibilities.
Eckstein welcomes these questions, leading with transparency and honesty to ensure that IFCJ’s supporters feel confident in where their donations are going.
Spurring Cooperation and Bridging Faiths
Eckstein’s leadership goes beyond humanitarian aid to fostering better Jewish-Christian relations. She credits her father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, with “clearing the ashes” of 2,000 years of historical tension between the two faiths.
“Not to forget what happened…but to move on, to try to turn over a new path,” she explains.
Today, IFCJ remains a bridge between these communities. Since the organization’s founding, 2.7 million people have supported its mission, advocating for Israel and contributing to life-saving programs. Eckstein sees this collaboration as a realization of the Bible’s vision of the Temple being a “house of prayer for all nations.”
The Universal Gift of Forgiveness
Throughout her podcast, Eckstein emphasizes the power of forgiveness, not just for others but for oneself—acknowledging that the latter is often much more difficult. She points out that many people still hold onto things that happened to them a year, 10 years, or even decades ago.
“These things can really weigh you down,” she says. Forgiving oneself and letting go of harmful emotions like shame, Eckstein explains, is the key to moving forward and ultimately experiencing growth. It’s freedom for the heart.
She encourages her listeners to identify the “ashes” they carry, whether that’s anger, guilt, or self-doubt, and clear them away each morning. Journaling or quiet reflection, Eckstein notes, can help create space for new opportunities and joy.
She shares a verse from Isaiah 1:18, where God says:
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
By letting go of past burdens, Eckstein believes individuals and communities can build stronger relationships and forge brighter futures. She applies this same idea to her work at IFCJ, where her efforts to create understanding and provide aid continue to transform countless lives.
Releasing the Past to Look Toward the Future
Eckstein’s reflections on Leviticus 6:10 highlight the power of renewal in nearly every aspect of life. Whether leading IFCJ, teaching through her podcast, or raising her children, her life shows how faith and forgiveness can inspire change and positivity.
Each day, Eckstein approaches her work and personal life with a clean slate, ready to embrace what’s ahead. Her leadership at IFCJ continues to strengthen Jewish-Christian relations and deliver life-saving aid to millions, while her role in her home gives her a chance to instill her beliefs in her children and the next generation.
“It has been said that if you win the morning, you win the day,” she says. For Yael Eckstein, every morning is a gift—a chance to build bridges, change lives, and walk in maximum joy, clarity, and productivity.
