Rosh Hashanah has always been associated with prayers for peace, health, and the sweetness of a new beginning. For Khona, an elderly Jewish woman living in Moldova, that sweetness was felt in a very real way when she received a food box from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, also known as IFCJ.
The package included sugar, cereals, canned goods, and the holiday staples of apples and honey that symbolize hope for the year ahead.
What may seem like ordinary groceries to some meant something much greater to her. Khona has spent years living on a pension that leaves her with barely enough to get by and has often said she would not have survived without the help that comes from The Fellowship.
She prays daily, not just for herself, but for peace and happiness for others, especially as the weight of war and economic loss ravages families like hers.
This year, sitting at her table with honey and apples, she could once again participate in the Jewish New Year, celebrating as she had in years past. The small package provided both nourishment and dignity, a reminder that she was part of a community that cared for her.
Her story is just one among many. For thousands of others in Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, similar packages stand between hunger and survival. Each delivery demonstrates how, even in times of war, poverty, and rising costs, the IFCJ’s help can arrive at the right moment and restore the ability to celebrate, endure, and keep faith in a better year ahead.
The Hidden Costs of Conflict
Stories like Khona’s represent a larger reality. The Taub Center’s 2024 Poverty Report revealed that nearly 20 percent of Israelis now live below the poverty line.
Behind that figure are Holocaust survivors who are aging with limited resources, elderly individuals on small pensions, and families who have been uprooted and displaced by war, forced to start over with almost nothing.
For many of these people, daily survival depends on support from organizations like the IFCJ.
The financial toll of conflict has only added to this struggle. In 2023, Reuters reported that if hostilities continue, Israel could face losses of up to $50 billion in GDP each year.
Rising inflation has pushed food prices beyond what many families can afford, forcing them to make difficult choices between groceries, heating, and medicine. For households that are already vulnerable, the added strain of war has made stability seem unattainable.
Meeting Urgent Needs Head-On
In response to these challenges, IFCJ has made its food program central to its mission, ensuring that people get the support they need year-round. Boxes like the one Khona received are distributed during holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and Passover so that families can gather with something on the table while upholding some of their most prized traditions.
Beyond holidays, the organization’s programs also provide food vouchers that give families flexibility in purchasing what they need most, and Meals on Wheels reaches elderly people who are unable to shop or cook on their own.
The scale of these programs is enormous. More than 136,000 elderly individuals and Holocaust survivors receive food, medications, winter heating, and emergency assistance from the IFCJ every year.
Hundreds of thousands of families and children are supported with clothing, school meals, food vouchers, backpacks, and supplies that help them begin the year prepared. Security-related programs serve more than 800,000 people by providing emergency hospital equipment, renovations, and support for soldiers who lack basic resources.
IFCJ also invests heavily in immigration and resettlement. Since its founding, IFCJ has supported the aliyah of more than 770,000 Jews, helping them resettle and rebuild their lives in Israel. The organization promotes access to immigrant services, vocational training for Ethiopian immigrants, and basic needs for Jewish people resettling from 29 countries across the former Soviet Union, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.
In total, IFCJ touches the lives of over 2 million people annually, whether it’s through a hot school meal or life-saving medicine.
Eckstein Honors Her Father’s Legacy
When IFCJ was established in 1983, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein saw an opportunity to bring Christians and Jews together to bless Israel and other Jewish communities worldwide. His vision led to the creation of an organization that would eventually raise billions of dollars to help Jews escape anti-Semitism, resettle in Israel, and receive lifesaving aid in times of terror and war.
Following the passing of Rabbi Eckstein, leadership was entrusted to his daughter Yael Eckstein, who today serves as President and Global CEO. From her home base in Jerusalem, she now oversees all ministry programs and serves as the international spokesperson for the organization.
Under her guidance, the organization continues to carry out the mission her father began, responding to humanitarian needs with both urgency and compassion.
Confidence That Inspires Support
IFCJ has built confidence among its supporters for decades through openness and accountability. It now raises over $175 million annually and has generated over $3.1 billion since its founding.
The Fellowship’s donor community has grown to more than 750,000 advocates and supporters worldwide. In 2004, it became one of the first nonprofits accredited by the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance and earned the BBB Charity Seal.
Reports show that 76 cents of every dollar raised go directly to program work, exceeding the standards set by leading watchdogs. These practices explain the strong IFCJ ratings and the positive IFCJ reviews, highlighting the organization’s transparency and impact.
Donors can participate in several ways, including anonymous giving, gifts made in memory of loved ones, and purchases from the organization’s catalog. Items marked with an Israeli flag in the catalog are sourced directly from Israel, and profits from all sales are reinvested in the programs that deliver aid.
Every contribution turns into food, medicine, or clothing for those who would otherwise go without.
Speaking on Behalf of Those in Need
Led by Yael Eckstein, IFCJ has become both a major humanitarian organization and a bridge between faith communities. As Global CEO, she not only directs the organization’s programs but also represents it on major media outlets, including “The Sean Hannity Show,” “The Ben Shapiro Show,” “Verdict with Ted Cruz,” and “The Rosenberg Report.”
She has also authored three books, which include “Holy Land Reflections: A Collection of Inspirational Insights from Israel,” “Spiritual Cooking with Yael,” and “Generation to Generation: Passing on a Legacy of Faith to Our Children.”
Eckstein’s reflections on Judaism and the importance of Jewish-Christian cooperation are shared widely through the Fellowship’s radio ministry, which reaches nearly 1,000 stations worldwide.
In 2021, she launched the “Nourish Your Biblical Roots” podcast. Since then, she has welcomed leaders such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Michele Bachmann, Elisha Wiesel, Dr. Alveda King, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon, and Mike Huckabee. Discussions often revolve around faith, Jewish-Christian relations, and Israel’s role in global affairs.
Her leadership has earned her significant recognition over the years. In 2015, she was featured on the cover of Nashim magazine and named to the Jerusalem Post’s list of 50 Most Influential Jews in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025. In 2023, she received the Jerusalem Post Humanitarian Award.
Like many nonprofit leaders, “Yael Eckstein salary” has been a topic of interest, especially among those deciding whether to give. IFCJ welcomes these curiosities, pointing to its long history of accountability and financial transparency, which has helped the organization maintain the trust of its donors.
Compassion Across Continents
Although IFCJ’s presence is felt most strongly in Israel, its reach extends worldwide. The Fellowship has offices in Jerusalem, Chicago, Toronto, and Seoul.
Through television, radio, educational programs, and digital platforms, the organization reaches people in over 100 countries daily, creating a global network of goodwill supporting its mission worldwide.
Resilience Forged Through Fellowship
Through its efforts, IFCJ has demonstrated that resilience can be built in countless ways, whether it’s through a holiday package, a school meal, a food voucher, or a new beginning in Israel.
Poverty, inflation, and war continue to push families below the poverty line, draining billions from the economy and driving up the cost of daily essentials. For the most vulnerable, survival has become more uncertain.
Yet, the work of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews demonstrates how consistent aid can cut through that uncertainty, offering hope that endures even in the most challenging of times.
From Yechiel Eckstein's founding vision to Yael Eckstein's leadership today, the organization has proven that resilience isn’t accidental. It is nurtured, piece by piece, by communities and supporters who refuse to let their neighbors face hardship alone.
