Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Menu Home/ Who We Are/ Leadership/ Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Founder and President Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Founder and President Social Media: Founder and President About Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein Rabbi Eckstein founded the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) in 1983 and has devoted his life to building bridges of understanding and cooperation between Christians and Jews and broad support for the state of Israel. TheFellowship, one of the top 400 nonprofits in America (The Chronicle of Philanthropy), raises over $140 million dollars annually from its 1.6 million Christian donors, making it the largest Christian-supported humanitarian agency helping Israel and the Jewish people around the world. Rabbi Eckstein received Orthodox Rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University in New York. He holds master’s degrees from Yeshiva University and Columbia University, where he also completed studies for his doctorate. He has served on the faculties of Columbia University, Chicago Theological Seminary, and Northern Baptist Seminary. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). In August 2015, his authorized biography, written by renowned journalist Zev Chafets and titled The Bridge Builder: The Life and Continuing Legacy of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, was released by Penguin Random House. A year later, the Hebrew version of The Bridge Builder was published in Israel. Working Around The World Since 1983, The Fellowship has raised more than $1.4 billion for programs helping Jews in Israel, the former Soviet Union, Latin America, Ethiopia, and over 50 countries. Rabbi Eckstein is a leading advocate of religious freedom worldwide. He traveled to China to work for the freedom of imprisoned Christian pastors and to champion the cause of religious liberty. In 1995, he brought the first Torah scroll to Uzbekistan since the Communist regime banned religious practice there in 1917. In Israel, Rabbi Eckstein has served as an Adviser to then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and, in 2005, was appointed as official Goodwill Ambassador of the state of Israel. Fostering Interfaith Dialogue Rabbi Eckstein was the founder and president of the Center for Jewish and Christian Values in Washington, D.C., has spoken at the National Day of Prayer, opened sessions of the U.S. Senate with prayer, conducted the first Passover seder for U.S. senators, and delivered the benediction with President Bill Clinton at the dedication ceremony for the memorial to Franklin D. Roosevelt in Washington, D.C., the first time in U.S. history that a rabbi has done so. Rabbi Eckstein has written columns and been featured in such publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, U.S. News and World Report, The Jerusalem Post, People magazine, and others. He is the author of 11 highly acclaimed books and is also a renowned Israeli Hasidic singer who has released four music CDs. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Rabbi Eckstein performed for Israeli troops on the Syrian front and in hospitals throughout Israel. Teaching a Global Audience Rabbi Eckstein is one of the leading international Bible teachers helping Christians deepen their bonds with Israel and their biblical Jewish roots. He reaches millions of people daily. Since 2010, Rabbi Eckstein has hosted a series of radio programs on Israel and Jewish-Christian relations in English and Spanish, airing in dozens of countries around the world. His message is heard on 3,040 radio outlets on five continents by over 23.5 million listeners each week. The Fellowship commands a sizable audience of loyal advocates for Israel on social media as well, with more than 1.5 million total followers across all platforms, including Rabbi Eckstein’s Facebook page. Its extensive television programming is carried daily on 119 stations nationwide, including the Fox News Network, with the potential reach of 90 million homes. Garnering Awards and Honors Rabbi Eckstein has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the world by The Jerusalem Post and included multiple times on Newsweek’s list of the 50 Most Influential Rabbis in the U.S. The U.S. Congress honored Rabbi Eckstein for his interfaith bridge-building. He has been given numerous awards from organizations around the globe, including the prestigious Raoul Wallenberg Award presented to him by the JDC in the Israel Knesset (parliament) by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, the government of Israel’s award for Special Contribution to the Welfare of the People of Israel, the Man of the Year award from the Federation of Jewish Communities presented to him at the Kremlin in Moscow, the Jerusalem Prize by the Economic Forum, and over 100 additional honors and awards from various other groups, including Chamah, Colel Chabad, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Hadassah, and more. Rabbi Eckstein is married to Joelle, lives in Jerusalem, and has three daughters and eight grandchildren. A City for Christians and Jews Explore the spiritual significance of the eternal city of Jerusalem LEARN MORE Learning Center Isaac: Our Patriarch of Strength Abraham: Our Patriarch of Loving-kindness Woman of Valor News From the Blog Fellowship Blog 'One of the Gold Grains Hidden Under the Heap of Rubble' Project Spotlight: Food for Christmas to Needy Christians Stand for Israel Foreign Country Trying to Interfere in Israeli Election Preparing for Upheaval Terrorist Who Killed Two IDF Soldiers Caught Ask The Rabbi Each month, Rabbi Eckstein’s Facebook followers ask many questions about the Jewish faith and life in Israel. From time to time he answers one with a video response. Watch the most recent Ask the Rabbi to learn more. Read More HLM Daily Devotionals Archive Holy Land Moments daily devotionals have been a blessing to thousands of people over the years. Find a previous devotionals and other ways to let Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein bless you today.  Read More Join Us in Helping the Most Vulnerable For over 30 years, The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has been able to serve millions of people all around the world. This is only possible because of the faithful contributions from dedicated donors. Every gift, big or small, makes a difference in the life of someone in need. Read More Subscribe To Our Newsletter Stay informed about issues affecting Israel, the Jewish people, Jewish-Christian relations, receive daily devotionals, and more. 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