Nourish Your Biblical Roots with Yael Eckstein

This episode of Jewish Voices, American Stories shares the stories of three American rabbis who helped shape a more inclusive, compassionate, and courageous nation through their convictions and actions.We begin with Rabbi Jacob Frankel, whose appointment as the first Jewish chaplain in the U.S. Army marked a turning point in American history. At a time when Jewish soldiers were excluded from spiritual leadership, Frankel’s service ensured that faith would not be a barrier—but a source of comfort, dignity, and belonging, even in the darkest moments of the Civil War.Next, we meet Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who believed that faith must be lived out through action. Marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rabbi Heschel showed that standing against hatred is not optional—it is a calling rooted in faith.Finally, we reflect on the life and legacy of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Through his vision, relationships once marked by distance became bridges of fellowship and understanding—uniting people of faith around the world.These stories remind us that faith is not meant to remain private or passive. It is meant to move us—to stand together, to serve others, and to build bridges when and where they are needed most.To learn more about God’s people—from the days of the Bible through the present—visit The Fellowship’s Learn Center.

In this episode of Heroes of the Holocaust, CJ Burroughs shares the true stories of three soldiers whose courage helped protect Jewish lives. The heroes we’ll meet today wore uniforms—men trained for war, who faced battles of conscience.You’ll hear the story of Orde Wingate, a British officer who stood with the Jewish people before World War II even began, training Jewish fighters in the Holy Land of Israel and helping shape what would later become the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).We’ll also meet Roddie Edmonds, an American sergeant held in a Nazi POW camp who refused to identify Jewish-American prisoners—and protected them by declaring, “We are all Jews here.”And finally, we’ll travel to Warsaw to remember Wilhelm Hosenfeld, a German officer who chose mercy in the middle of ruin, saving the life of a starving Jewish pianist.These stories remind us that a uniform doesn’t determine a person’s character. Choices do—and courage can take many forms.To learn more about God’s people—from the days of the Bible through the present day—visit The Fellowship’s Learn Center

In this episode of Heroes of the Holocaust, CJ Burroughs shares the true stories of three Righteous Gentiles who protected Jewish lives. The heroes we’ll meet today were farmers, woodsmen, and country families—ordinary people who worked the land, and who chose to do what was right even when it cost them everything.You’ll hear the story of Mefodiy and Kseniya Logatzky, a Christian farming couple in Ukraine who opened their home to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, even as the danger closed in around them.You’ll also meet Mykolas and Jadvyga Simelis, a Lithuanian family who hid fourteen Jewish people beneath their floorboards, sharing what little they had while living under constant fear.And finally, we’ll travel to the Lithuanian countryside to remember Jonas and Felicija Radlinskas, who sheltered two young Jewish sisters in a cellar for years—feeding them, protecting them, and helping them survive until the war ended.These stories remind us that righteousness isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s hidden, hungry, hushed… and still it’s faithful.To learn more about God’s people—from the days of the Bible through the present day—visit The Fellowship’s Learn Center.

In this episode of Heroes of the Holocaust, CJ Burroughs shares the true stories of three Righteous Gentiles who protected Jewish lives. The pastors we’ll meet today were spiritual shepherds who refused to stay silent in the face of evil.You’ll hear the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor whose faith led him to resist Hitler… and make the ultimate sacrifice.You’ll also meet Vladimir Kuna, a pastor in Slovakia who opened his church orphanage to Jewish children whose parents had nowhere else to turn.And finally, we’ll travel to France to remember André and Magda Trocmé, whose compassion inspired an entire town to shelter Jewish refugees and protect them from Nazi persecution.These stories remind us that faith is not shown by words alone—but by action, even when doing what’s right comes at a cost.To learn more about God’s people—from the days of the Bible through the present day—visit The Fellowship’s Learn Center.

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.

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.

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.

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!