Yael Eckstein stands in a vocational training center, watching as young Israelis from impoverished families learn skills that could transform their economic futures. As President and Global CEO of The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, she has made education a cornerstone of her organization’s mission to break generational poverty cycles affecting thousands of Israeli youth.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has launched comprehensive educational scholarships and training initiatives in early 2025, responding to a surge in youth unemployment and undereducation following war disruptions and economic downturns. These programs represent a strategic shift toward long-term economic resilience rather than temporary relief measures.
The timing reflects an urgent necessity. Recent conflicts have displaced families, interrupted schooling, and created economic instability that particularly impacts young people entering the workforce. Many come from families where parents struggle to provide basic necessities, making higher education or vocational training seem impossible.
Eckstein, who has led the organization since taking over from her father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, sees these challenges as opportunities to create lasting change. The Fellowship’s new approach channels donor support into university stipends, vocational programs, and mentorship systems designed to build economic independence for Israel’s next generation.
The organization’s track record suggests ambitious goals are achievable. Since its founding in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has raised over $3.6 billion for humanitarian efforts. The Fellowship now generates over $273 million annually from its supporters, mostly Christians.
The Fellowship’s educational initiatives address fundamental barriers that keep young Israelis trapped in poverty cycles. Traditional charity provides temporary relief, but these programs aim to create permanent economic mobility through skills development and higher education access.
Vocational training programs focus on high-demand sectors, including healthcare. Students receive hands-on training in dental assistance, nursing support, and technical specialties. These programs particularly benefit young adults from Ethiopian immigrant families and other marginalized communities.
University scholarship programs remove financial barriers for academically qualified students whose families cannot afford higher education costs. The Fellowship provides assistance, living stipends, and academic support services that help students complete degrees in various fields.
Mentorship components connect scholarship recipients with established professionals who provide career guidance, networking opportunities, and ongoing support. This relationship-based approach addresses isolation and lack of professional connections that often prevent young people from disadvantaged backgrounds from advancing economically.
The Fellowshipās programs 2 million people annually, but the educational focus represents a strategic evolution toward sustainable solutions. Rather than simply providing food packages or emergency aid, The Fellowship invests in human capital development that generates long-term economic returns.
IFCJ reviews consistently highlight the organization’s commitment to transparency and effectiveness. The Fellowship maintains full accreditation from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, indicating compliance with all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. This credibility enables donors to support educational initiatives with confidence that their contributions create a meaningful impact.
Recent conflicts have created unprecedented challenges for Israeli youth education and workforce development. School closures, family displacement, and economic disruption have interrupted normal educational pathways for thousands of young people during critical developmental periods.
The Fellowship’s response exemplifies how established humanitarian organizations can rapidly adapt to emerging needs. While maintaining traditional programs serving elderly Holocaust survivors and families requiring basic assistance, the organization has expanded educational programs to address war-related disruptions.
Military service requirements add complexity to educational planning for Israeli youth. The Fellowship’s existing support programs for soldiers, including assistance for Ethiopian immigrant soldiers and lone soldiers without family support, provide frameworks for programs that accommodate military service obligations.
The educational crisis extends beyond individual hardship to represent significant economic costs for Israeli society. Lost productivity from undereducated youth, increased social service demands, and reduced tax revenues create long-term economic burdens that educational investment can help prevent.
Yael Eckstein brings unique qualifications to leading the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews through its strategic focus on education and economic development. Her background combines nonprofit management experience with a deep understanding of Israeli social conditions and Jewish-Christian relations.
As President and Global CEO, Eckstein oversees all ministry programs while serving as the organization’s international spokesperson. Her previous roles as Global Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, and Director of Program Development provided comprehensive preparation for her current leadership responsibilities.
Eckstein’s educational background 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. This diverse academic foundation informs her approach to addressing complex social challenges through evidence-based programming.
The Fellowship’s educational initiatives reflect Eckstein’s understanding that effective humanitarian work requires addressing root causes rather than symptoms.Ā
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Recognition of Eckstein’s leadership includes selection for the Jerusalem Post’s list of 50 Most Influential Jews in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. She received the Jerusalem Post’s 2023 Humanitarian Award, acknowledging her contributions to addressing humanitarian challenges through innovative programming approaches.
Financial transparency remains a priority under Eckstein’s leadership. The Fellowship earned GuideStar Platinum Transparency recognition, providing donors with comprehensive information about program effectiveness and financial management. This transparency becomes particularly important as the organization channels resources toward long-term educational investments rather than immediate relief measures.
IFCJ rating agencies consistently recognize the organization’s accountability and effectiveness. Charity Navigator evaluates The Fellowship based on Impact & Measurement, Accountability & Finance, Culture & Community, and Leadership & Adaptability criteria, providing an independent assessment of organizational performance.
The Fellowship’s ability to launch comprehensive educational programs depends on sustained donor support from Christian communities worldwide. The organization’s unique position bridging Christian and Jewish communities enables fundraising approaches that emphasize shared values and mutual understanding.
Donor testimonials reflect a long-term commitment to The Fellowship’s mission. Mary Robben began supporting the organization 16 years ago after watching television programs about orphans and elderly people that The Fellowship supports in Israel.Ā
Janiece Love represents donors motivated by a spiritual calling to support Jewish people and Israel. Her 30-year commitment to The Fellowship stems from recognition of shared struggles between African American and Jewish communities, illustrating how the organization builds bridges across different faith and ethnic backgrounds.
The Fellowship’s donor base of hundreds of thousands of supporters provides stability that enables long-term planning. Unlike emergency relief programs that respond to immediate crises, educational initiatives require sustained funding over multiple years to achieve meaningful outcomes.
The organization’s fundraising success has earned recognition, including selection by the ANA Nonprofit Federation as Nonprofit Organization of the Year. This honor recognizes organizational excellence and is awarded by one of the most prominent associations in the U.S. for fundraising professionals.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has also earned recognition as one of America’s Top 100 Charities by Forbes for four consecutive years, reflecting organizational effectiveness that enables successful educational programs. This credibility attracts donor support while ensuring resources reach intended beneficiaries efficiently.
Christian donors supporting Jewish education and economic development represent a unique interfaith partnership That the Fellowship has cultivated since its founding by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. This relationship requires careful communication that respects both Christian motivations for giving and Jewish community needs for support.
The Fellowship’s educational programs generate economic benefits that extend far beyond individual program participants. Young people who complete vocational training or university degrees through Fellowship support contribute to Israeli economic development while reducing demand for ongoing social services.
Graduates enter employment markets with immediately applicable skills, reducing unemployment while filling positions that support economic growth. This targeted approach maximizes economic return on educational investment.
University scholarship programs produce graduates in diverse fields. These professionals contribute to Israeli innovation, social services, and economic development while serving as role models for other young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Rather than recurring costs for basic needs assistance, educational spending creates assets that produce long-term benefits.
Economic analysis suggests that educational investment prevents larger future costs associated with unemployment, social service dependency, and reduced tax revenues. The Fellowship’s programs address these challenges proactively while creating economic opportunities for individual participants. The Fellowship’s educational programs complement Israel’s broader economic development strategies by addressing human capital needs in key sectors.
IFCJ reviews from independent evaluators consistently highlight the organization’s commitment to accountability and program effectiveness. The Fellowship’s educational initiatives build on this foundation of trust while addressing complex social challenges through innovative programming approaches.
Yael Eckstein’s salary and compensation reflect industry standards for nonprofit leadership, ensuring organizational stability while maintaining donor confidence in financial stewardship. Transparent financial reporting enables supporters to understand how their contributions support the necessary organizational infrastructure and programs.
Through its support of comprehensive educational programs, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews demonstrates how established humanitarian organizations can adapt to emerging challenges while maintaining core mission commitments.Ā
As The Fellowship expands these programs, they represent a significant investment in Israel’s economic future while fulfilling the organization’s mission of building bridges between Christians and Jews through humanitarian action.
*The San Francisco Examiner newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.Ā Ā
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