Yael Eckstein has earned a reputation for her exceptional leadership of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), a globally recognized organization committed to enhancing Jewish-Christian relations while providing essential humanitarian aid to the Jewish people.
Yael, who has served as the President and CEO of The Fellowship since 2019, is carrying on the legacy of her father, the late Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who founded the Fellowship in 1983 as an effort to promote better understanding and cooperation between Christians and Jews. Today it is the world’s largest organization uniting Christians and Jews worldwide to support Israel and the Jewish people.
Before she took on the role of president and CEO at IFCJ, Yael served as global executive vice president and senior vice president and was instrumental in expanding the organization’s outreach efforts. Under Yael’s stewardship, The Fellowship has become one of the largest Jewish philanthropic organizations worldwide. Through her leadership, she has expanded programs that are central to the organization’s mission, such as alleviating poverty, supporting Holocaust survivors, and providing life-saving assistance to those affected by war and terrorism.
The IFCJ has made a significant impact globally, raising awareness of the plight of Jewish people in impoverished regions, while also providing direct humanitarian assistance. From helping Jews in Israel and the former Soviet Union to facilitating immigration to Israel for Jews escaping persecution, the organization has been a lifeline for millions of individuals.
The Fellowship provides humanitarian aid to more than 2.3 million people in need worldwide, including the elderly, Holocaust survivors, children, and victims of terror, and its robust communications network – including teaching, television and radio programs, and web contacts – reaches many millions more in some 100 countries, creating an enormous groundswell of aid and good will.
Thousands more are helped through dozens of security projects funded by The Fellowship around the world. Many of the poorest Jewish families in the world live in the nations of the former Soviet Union and small Jewish communities worldwide, where The Fellowship provides vital food and supplies each year.
The IFCJ now raises more than $232 million per year – mostly from Christians – and has hundreds of thousands supporters. Since its founding, The Fellowship has raised more than $3.5 billion for this work. The organization has offices in Jerusalem, Chicago, Toronto, and Seoul.
A Role Model for Female Leadership
Yael Eckstein stands out as one of the few women to lead such a significant religious charitable organization, and her role in advancing Jewish-Christian relations has garnered her accolades and recognition. She has been lauded not only for her leadership skills but also for her ability to bridge divides between people of different faiths and cultures. Her approach to leadership is deeply rooted in her belief in the power of collaboration and unity.
Yael has built enduring relationships with Christian communities around the world, fostering understanding and goodwill between these groups and the Jewish people. As the author of several books, including Holy Land Reflections: A Collection of Inspirational Insights from Israel, Spiritual Cooking with Yael, and Generation to Generation: Passing on a Legacy of Faith to Our Children, she has further deepened this connection by sharing her personal experiences and insights.
Through her podcast, Nourish Your Biblical Roots, Eckstein has brought together some of the world’s most prominent Christian and Jewish thought leaders, creating an open space for conversations on faith, Israel, and Jewish-Christian relations. Her thoughts on these subjects can also be heard on The Fellowship’s radio ministry programs.
Yael has partnered with other global organizations, appeared on national television, and visited with U.S. and world leaders on issues of shared concern. Yael’s influence as one of the young leaders in Israel was featured in 2015 as the cover story of Nashim [Women] magazine. In 2019, The Algemeiner named Yael to the Jewish 100, citing the positive influence she has made to Jewish life, and referring to her as “the world’s leading Jewish interfaith activist.” In 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024, she was named to the Jerusalem Post’s list of 50 Most Influential Jews, and in 2022, she made the list of “50 of our favorite Jewish women right now” by Future of Jewish. Most recently, Yael also received the Jerusalem Post’s 2023 Humanitarian Award. These accolades highlight her tireless efforts to build bridges between different faith communities and to ensure that the legacy of the Jewish people endures.
Strengthening IFCJ’s Mission
As the President and CEO, Yael has kept the focus of IFCJ on its humanitarian mission to support those in need. The organization is well-known for its extensive programs that provide assistance to Jews living in poverty, survivors of the Holocaust, and those who face persecution and anti-Semitism. One of the organization’s most high-profile initiatives is its work in providing life-saving aid to Israel’s victims of terrorism and conflict.
Another of IFCJ’s key programs is supporting aliyah (immigration to Israel),, which helps Jews who are at risk of anti-Semitic violence and economic hardship to make their way to their biblical homeland. Yael is particularly passionate about this work, as it provides not only a physical return to safety for many Jewish families but also a spiritual journey of fulfillment.
Transparency and Accountability
As the President and CEO of IFCJ, Yael Eckstein is also a leading advocate for transparency within nonprofit leadership. She has always emphasized that the organization’s success hinges on maintaining the trust of its supporters, which is why financial integrity and responsibility are cornerstones of her leadership.
IFCJ’s commitment to its mission is reflected in its financial transparency and accountability, ensuring that donor funds are used in the most effective and responsible way possible. In 2023, the organization conducted a salary and compensation audit to ensure fairness and transparency. This audit, which included Yael Eckstein’s compensation, confirmed that the organization’s compensation practices were aligned with industry standards, offering fair and competitive salaries to attract top-tier talent. The report indicated that Yael Eckstein’s salary was consistent with comparable nonprofit organizations.
A Personal and Professional Passion
Born just outside of Chicago, Yael’s education includes biblical studies at Torat Chesed Seminary in Israel, Jewish and sociology studies at Queens College in New York, and additional study at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Yael and her family now reside in Israel, where they continue to contribute to the well-being of the Jewish community while fostering interfaith dialogue globally.
Her influence extends beyond the borders of Israel, and her work has been recognized internationally.
A Leader for Now and for the Future
Yael Eckstein’s leadership continues to shape the future of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. She has brought innovation and passion to the organization, ensuring that it remains on the cutting edge of global philanthropy and Jewish-Christian relations. As the organization looks toward the future, Yael’s vision and leadership will continue to guide IFCJ in its mission to build bridges, provide humanitarian aid, and foster understanding between different faith communities.
