Yael Eckstein leads one of the world's largest religious charitable organizations, based in Jerusalem, where she oversees humanitarian programs that reach millions of people facing economic hardship across Israel and beyond.
As President and Global CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Eckstein directs an organization that has evolved far beyond its original mission of building bridges between faith communities. Founded by her father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, in 1983, IFCJ has become a critical response network addressing the hidden economic casualties of ongoing conflict in Israel.
The economic impact of recent conflicts has created widespread financial strain throughout Israeli society. Unemployment surged by nearly 6 percentage points at the outbreak of war, with the total number of unemployed and those temporarily absent from work reaching 9.6% in October 2023, according to the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel.
IFCJ raises more than $270 million annually, primarily from Christian supporters, and has expanded its traditional humanitarian work to address economic pressures created by ongoing conflict.
The scope of need has grown dramatically since the organization's founding. Through programs of direct assistance, such as food, medicines, blankets, and heat, IFCJ has provided humanitarian aid to more than 2 million people in need worldwide in recent years, including elderly individuals, Holocaust survivors, and children.
Born in Evanston, Illinois, Eckstein was educated at institutions in both the United States and Israel, including 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. She was named to The Jerusalem Post's 50 Most Influential Jews list in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, recognition that reflects both her individual impact and the growing influence of faith-based humanitarian organizations.
Before assuming her current role, Yael Eckstein served as Global Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, and Director of Program Development and Ministry Outreach. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit roles, she holds the distinction of being a woman who leads one of the world's largest religious charitable organizations.
Among the most vulnerable populations affected by Israel's economic challenges are Holocaust survivors, more than 40 percent of whom live below the poverty line. For these individuals living on fixed incomes, rising costs of necessities create impossible choices between essential needs.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews provides emergency and basic needs assistance to more than 136,000 elderly people and Holocaust survivors annually. This comprehensive support includes monthly food packages and vouchers, medicines and medical aid services, and heating assistance during the winter months.
IFCJ operates dozens of soup kitchens throughout Israel and funds day centers and clubs that address the social isolation many survivors experience. The organization recognizes that elderly poverty involves material deprivation and emotional and social needs that require comprehensive intervention.
The programs extend beyond immediate relief to include emergency funds for basic needs and specialized programs for elderly populations. As the number of living Holocaust survivors decreases each year, IFCJ has made supporting this population a cornerstone of its mission, recognizing both the moral imperative and the urgency of serving those who witnessed history's darkest chapter.
IFCJ reviews consistently show the effectiveness of these targeted programs in addressing both immediate needs and long-term quality of life issues for Holocaust survivors across Israel.
The organization's work extends well beyond Holocaust survivors to encompass families, children, and individuals across Israeli society facing economic hardship. IFCJ provides basic needs assistance to more than 798,000 families and children annually through comprehensive programs addressing multiple aspects of poverty.
For families with children, IFCJ provides clothing to impoverished and orphaned children for Passover and Rosh Hashanah, as well as year-round food packages and hot meals for needy schoolchildren. The organization supplies backpacks and school supplies, recognizing that childhood poverty extends beyond hunger to encompass educational opportunities and social inclusion.
Professional development represents another key component of family assistance programs. IFCJ offers professional training to young adults in fields such as dental assisting and nursing, creating pathways toward economic self-sufficiency. Scholarships and training programs for at-risk children and youth invest in long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews also assists minorities within Israel, including Christians, Druze, and Bedouin communities. This inclusive approach reflects the organization's broader mission of building bridges and fostering understanding among diverse groups within Israeli society.
Programs designed to help families move toward self-sufficiency include assistance for poor, abused, and single mothers, demonstrating IFCJ's comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of poverty rather than just its symptoms.
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein's vision for IFCJ continues to guide the organization's work four decades after its founding. His belief that Christians and Jews could work together to address humanitarian challenges established the foundation for what has become the world's largest organization of Christians actively working with Jews worldwide to support Israel and the Jewish people.
The most visible manifestation of this vision is the organization's aliyah (immigration to Israel) program, which has enabled more than 770,000 Jews to immigrate to Israel and establish stable lives in the land of their ancestors. This massive undertaking represents one of the largest voluntary migrations in modern history, helping individuals and families escape poverty and anti-Semitism.
Since its founding, The Fellowship has raised over $3.6 billion for humanitarian work and maintains hundreds of thousands of supporters and advocates worldwide. The organization's communications network reaches millions of people daily through teaching programs, television and radio broadcasts, and web contacts.
The Fellowship's approach emphasizes practical cooperation over theological debate, enabling IFCJ to build partnerships with Christian organizations and denominations across the theological spectrum. This focus on shared humanitarian action has created, according to the organization, an enormous groundswell of aid and goodwill extending far beyond traditional Jewish support networks.
The organization provides immigration and resettlement assistance to thousands of people annually, helping needy Jewish individuals make aliyah from 30 countries. The expansion of IFCJ under Yael Eckstein's leadership has maintained a collaborative spirit while adapting to contemporary challenges. The organization has offices in more than 41 countries, including Jerusalem, Chicago, Toronto, and Seoul. This global reach enables IFCJ to address Jewish poverty and vulnerability wherever it exists, from the former Soviet Union to South America.
IFCJ's security programs address Israeli society's ongoing challenges, helping more than 800,000 people through security-related emergency programs.
The security programs provide aid to terror victims and their families, equipment and emergency renovations to hospitals and first responders, and soldiers' welfare programs. These programs acknowledge that security challenges result in immediate trauma and long-term economic consequences for individuals and communities.
The organization's support for soldiers extends beyond active duty personnel, including programs for former soldiers, lone soldiers without family support, and soldiers facing financial difficulties. Special attention is given to Ethiopian immigrant soldiers, who often face additional challenges related to cultural integration and family separation.
Yael Eckstein salary questions have been addressed, and the IFCJ leadership has maintained firm financial transparency and accountability commitments. The organization completed its 2024 Salary and Compensation Audit, conducted by independent auditor Willis Towers Watson, demonstrating a commitment to the responsible stewardship of donor funds.
"Trust is the foundation of our work, and this independent review reinforces our dedication to managing donor contributions responsibly," Eckstein says.
IFCJ ratings among charity watchdog organizations reflect this comprehensive approach to accountability, helping build trust with donors while setting standards for other faith-based organizations.
Questions about Yael Eckstein's salary arrangements are addressed through regular independent audits and public reporting, reflecting broader trends in nonprofit accountability and transparency. The organization's willingness to undergo outside scrutiny demonstrates its confidence in its stewardship practices and commitment to maintaining donor trust.
Looking toward the future, IFCJ faces both opportunities and challenges as it seeks to expand its impact while maintaining the values and relationships that have defined its success for over four decades. The organization's dual role in providing practical humanitarian aid and building bridges between faith communities positions it uniquely to address both immediate needs and longer-term questions about cooperation and mutual support in an increasingly divided world.
