Nourish Your Biblical Roots with Yael Eckstein

Welcome to a new season of Nourish Your Biblical Roots, Holy Land Digs! Throughout these eight episodes, we’ll journey across Israel, exploring the places where biblical history unfolded, uncovering remarkable stories from the past, and discovering how the ancient Holy Land continues to bring the Bible to life today.

In our first episode, we begin in Jerusalem—the Holy City that has stood at the heart of Jewish faith for thousands of years. From the Mount of Olives to the ancient City of David, we’ll explore the biblical history of Jerusalem, discover how King David made i...

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Simchat Torah—Hebrew for “Rejoicing in the Torah”—and discover why one of the happiest days on the Jewish calendar is devoted to celebrating the gift of God’s Word. It is a day of singing, dancing, and joy—and a reminder that when it comes to studying the Bible, every ending is also a new beginning.

In this episode, Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein explains how Jewish people read through the Torah each year, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, and why the moment the final verses are c...

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—and discover why the holiest day on the Jewish calendar is not a day of fear, but a day of forgiveness, mercy, and the joy of beginning again.

In this episode, Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein explains the biblical origins of Yom Kippur and how this sacred day brings the High Holy Days to their conclusion. You’ll learn how Jewish people observe Yom Kippur through fasting, prayer, repentance, and reflection—and why the day is devoted not only to seeki...

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Rosh Hashanah—the Jewish New Year—and discover why this biblical holiday is about far more than beginning another year. Rosh Hashanah is an invitation to wake up spiritually, examine our lives, return to God, and begin again.

Today, Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein explains the biblical origins of Rosh Hashanah, which the Bible also calls the Festival of Trumpets, and why the sounding of the shofar remains at the heart of the holiday. Jewish families welcome the new year with sweet foods and joyful trad...

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Sukkot—the biblical Feast of Tabernacles—and discover why a holiday centered around fragile, temporary shelters offers a powerful lesson about where our true security is found.

Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein explains how Sukkot remembers God’s protection and provision for the Israelites during their journey through the desert. Yael shares the biblical traditions of the holiday—from building and dwelling in a sukkah to bringing together the four species—and reveals a deeper message behind them: our security does not come from the walls arou...

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Tisha B’Av—the saddest day on the Jewish calendar—and discover why a day devoted to remembering tragedy is also one of Judaism’s most powerful lessons about hope.

Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein explains how Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, along with centuries of suffering endured by the Jewish people. Yael shares the solemn traditions of the day—from fasting and reading the Book of Lamentations to sitting low to the ground in mourning—and reveals th...

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Purim—the joyful Jewish celebration of the story found in the Book of Esther—and discover how God is often working behind the scenes… even when we cannot see Him.

Fellowship President and CEO Yael Eckstein traces the dramatic Bible story, explaining how God delivered the Jewish people through the courage of Queen Esther and the faith of Mordecai. Along the way, she explores beloved Purim traditions—from costumes and noisemakers to gifts for friends and charity for the poor—and reveals how each points to one powerful t...

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Hanukkah—the Festival of Lights—and discover why this beloved Jewish holiday continues to inspire hope in every generation.

Yael Eckstein traces the remarkable story of the Maccabees, whose faith and courage preserved the worship of the one true God against overwhelming odds. Along the way, she explains the meaning behind the menorah, the miracles of Hanukkah, and what this holiday teaches us about choosing faith over fear and light over darkness.

You’ll also hear timeless teachings from Fellowship Founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, of blesse...

Welcome to a new season of Nourish Your Biblical Roots, Holy Days, Holy People. Throughout these eight episodes, Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein will guide us through the biblical holidays that have shaped the faith, identity, and history of the Jewish people for thousands of years—and point us back to the God of the Bible today.

In this first episode, we begin with Passover (Pesach), the foundational story of God’s redemption. Together we’ll revisit the dramatic night when the Israelites left Egypt, discover why the Exodus remains central to the Jewish faith, and ex...

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...

This episode of Jewish Voices, American Stories explores how Jewish-American scientists and doctors helped change the course of history—bringing healing, hope, and life to millions.

We begin with Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, two brilliant scientists whose breakthroughs in the fight against polio transformed one of America’s greatest fears into one of its greatest public health victories. At a time when families lived in dread of the disease, their vaccines brought relief, protection, and a future free from fear—and they chose to share their discoveries not for profit, but for the good of humanity.

N...

This episode of Jewish Voices, American Stories looks at God’s gift of laughter—and how Jewish comedians have helped bring joy, resilience, and connection to American life.

We begin with the Marx Brothers, a family of immigrant performers whose quick wit, physical comedy, and unforgettable characters helped define American humor. In times of hardship and uncertainty, their laughter offered something more than entertainment—it offered relief, creativity, and even healing.

Next, we meet Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner, two performers whose comedy made audiences laugh while also touching the heart. From The Producers to Saturd...

This episode of Jewish Voices, American Stories reflects on moments of tragedy that have shaped both the Jewish experience and the American story—reminding us why memory, compassion, and courage matter.

We begin with the Titanic, where amid one of history’s most famous disasters, a remarkable love story unfolded. Isidor and Ida Straus—partners in life for more than forty years—chose to remain together as the ship sank, leaving behind a legacy of devotion that echoes the enduring words: “Many waters cannot quench love.”

Next, we turn to the voyage of the St. Louis, a shi...

This episode of Jewish Voices, American Stories takes us back to the earliest chapters of American history—long before Ellis Island—when Jewish life was already taking root in a new and uncertain nation.

We begin at Touro Synagogue—the oldest synagogue in the United States. Built by a small community seeking religious freedom, it stands as a lasting symbol of a promise that would define America: that people of all faiths could worship freely and live without fear. That promise was powerfully affirmed in 1790, when President George Washington declared that the new nation would give “to bigotry...

In this episode of Jewish Voices, American Stories, we’ll explore the powerful role Jewish musicians have played in shaping the soundtrack of America. From the concert hall to Broadway to the radio, music has always helped tell the story of our nation—and Jewish voices have played a part in that story in profound and lasting ways.

We begin with Itzhak Perlman, a world-renowned violinist whose journey from Tel Aviv to American stages captivated millions. Despite physical challenges from childhood polio, Perlman’s joy, warmth, and extraordinary talent have brought classical music into living rooms across the co...

In this episode of Jewish Voices, American Stories, we’ll explore the Jewish writers whose words helped shape not just literature—but the moral and spiritual conscience of America.

We begin with Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor whose powerful testimony in Night brought the reality of unimaginable suffering into classrooms and hearts across the country. Through his writing, Wiesel bore witness to both the horrors he endured and the enduring themes of faith, justice, and human dignity.

Next, we meet Hannah Arendt, a brilliant thinker who fled Nazi Europe and later challenged the world to conf...

Welcome to a new podcast season, Jewish Voices, American Stories. In this episode, we’ll explore pivotal moments when American presidents helped shape a nation where the Jewish people could belong—and thrive.

We begin at the founding of the United States, when George Washington answered a profound question for a small but faithful community: Would this new nation make room for the Jewish people? Through a historic letter to a Jewish congregation, Washington offered more than tolerance—he affirmed full belonging, promising a country that gives “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”

From there...

In this special Passover episode of Nourish Your Biblical Roots, Yael Eckstein and Bishop Paul Lanier explore one of the most powerful and meaningful stories in the Bible—not only for the Jewish people, but for Christians, too.

Passover commemorates God’s dramatic deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. But this biblical story of redemption isn’t just about the past—it is meant to shape our faith today.

In this moving conversation, Yael and Bishop Lanier reflect on what Christians should know about Passover, the Exodus, and the Jewish roots of their faith. Y...

In this special Passover episode of Nourish Your Biblical Roots, Yael Eckstein invites us into one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—biblical traditions: the asking of questions.

Passover is one of the most sacred holidays in the Bible, commemorating God’s dramatic deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. But Passover is not meant to be remembered passively—it’s meant to be experienced personally. And it all begins with a question:

Why is this night different from all other nights?

The Seder, the traditional Passover meal, was designed by God to awa...

In this final episode of Heroes of the Holocaust, CJ Burroughs shares the true stories of three heroes who gave their lives in the face of evil. Some were Righteous Gentiles—non-Jews who chose to protect Jewish lives at terrible cost. But the first hero we’ll meet today was Jewish himself.

You’ll hear the story of Dr. Janusz Korczak, a doctor, writer, and caretaker in Warsaw who refused to abandon the children in his care, even when he was offered a chance to escape.

You’ll also meet Diet Eman, a young Christian woman in...

In this episode of Heroes of the Holocaust, CJ Burroughs shares the true stories of three heroes whose courage took place underground. The stories we’ll hear today include secret resistance networks, hidden wilderness refuges, and even a literal shelter beneath the earth.

You’ll hear the story of Jan Karski, a Righteous Gentile who served as a courier for the Polish underground and risked his life to carry the truth about the Holocaust to the world.

You’ll also meet the Bielski brothers, Jewish partisans who fled into the forests and built a hidden commun...

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 P...

In this episode of Heroes of the Holocaust, CJ Burroughs shares the true stories of three heroes whose courage was expressed through art. The heroes we’ll meet today were writers and performers. Artists who used their creativity to preserve truth, resist evil, and protect Jewish lives.

You’ll hear the story of Armin T. Wegner, a German writer who dared to confront Adolf Hitler by speaking out against the persecution of Jews—choosing truth even when it cost him everything.

You’ll also meet Franceska Mann, a Jewish ballerina from Warsaw whose final act of resis...

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 Lithua...

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 doctors, nurses, and medical students—people trained to heal the body. People who found themselves in situations where acts of healing became acts of resistance.

You’ll hear the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish nurse who walked into the Warsaw Ghetto again and again, working to rescue Jewish children from unimaginable suffering.

You’ll also meet Dr. Rudolf Weigl, a scientist who studied typhus and used his...

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...

In the first episode of Heroes of the Holocaust, CJ Burroughs shares the true stories of three Righteous Gentiles who protected Jewish lives—ordinary teachers and caregivers who became extraordinary rescuers.

The heroes we meet today were women of quiet conviction who stepped into danger to protect children the world had decided were expendable.

You’ll hear the story of Lois Gunden, a young Mennonite teacher who left America for Nazi-occupied France and opened a refuge for children threatened by war.

You’ll also meet Marie-Rose Gineste, who carried truth through occupied France on a b...

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 l...

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!

Thi...

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...

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 w...

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...

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...

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 t...

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 du...

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.

Inste...

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...

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 t...

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 live...

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”—a...