Nourish Your Biblical Roots with Yael Eckstein

Do you ever wish for an easier life? Or think that if your life were easier it would be better? The Israelites wished for an easier life after they realized how hard it would be to enter the Promised Land. With so many challenges – a difficult land to capture and cultivate — they believed that because God had put them in this position, He actually hated them! In today’s episode, host Yael Eckstein explains that the exact opposite is the truth. Jewish teachings tell us that our challenges can help strengthen us so we grow, thrive, and live meaningful lives, and we can trust God is with us every step of the way. Our challenges can actually be our greatest gifts! Learn how on today’s podcast. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

In many ways, it was hard to avoid getting angry at something during the past year. With the elections, the heated political debates on social media, and all the issues that came up during the pandemic, you probably felt your buttons being pushed at some point. Truth is, we all get angry. But as we’ll learn in this week’s episode, there’s a great cost to holding on to our anger. Even Moses grew angry when he thought the Israelites didn’t follow the Word of God. But host Yael Eckstein explores ancient Jewish teachings about what holding onto anger can cost us. And more importantly, what we can gain by letting it go and giving it to God. If you think about it, staying angry only hurts us, but standing in prayer is probably the most constructive thing we can ever do. Listen now – you won’t want to miss this episode! For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

How often do you really take the time to enjoy the blessings in your life? It’s easy to focus on what we don’t have or compare our life to others. But if we’re not careful, we might miss out on what’s right in front of us! In today’s episode, host Yael Eckstein turns to the Bible to unpack the powerful message that God knows how unique we are, and because of this, He gives us exactly what we need in life. Our life may look different than someone else’s life, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less. If we trust that God always provides us with exactly what we need, we might just learn the Jewish understanding of true happiness — HaSameach b’chelko, “the one who is happy with his lot. Noticing and enjoying the blessings we already have makes life that much sweeter — and happier! For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

How do you view the bad things that happen to you? Do you feel that God has forgotten you? That He doesn’t love you anymore? Or worse, that He’s out to get you? If we truly believe that God is the source of everything that happens in our lives and that God is good, that means everything that happens to us must also be good. Right? But we sometimes don’t look at it that way. In today’s episode, host Yael Eckstein turns to Jewish lessons from the Bible to teach us how to think about the bad stuff that happens to us with a different perspective. As Yael shares, sometimes God puts obstacles in our path to teach us or protect us in a way that we could have never predicted. We cannot know God’s ways, but Scripture shows us that if we praise Him for everything that happens to us – good or bad – we’ll learn that it’s actually all for the good! For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

When was the last time you saw God’s miracles happening around you? It’s true, the Red Sea isn’t parting in front of us like in Moses’ time and, in fact, if you listen to the news today, it can be difficult to see God’s hand at work in our world. But why do we assume miracles are ancient history that only happened during biblical times? In today’s episode, host Yael Eckstein explains that while some of the miracles of the Bible happened in front of everyone, others were more hidden. Yet hidden miracles are no less wondrous than those that are obvious. And, as a people of faith, it’s up to us to see every miracle – from our heart that beats, to our eyes that see. If we look closely, we’ll see that God’s miracles are all around! For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

What does it really mean to be a wealthy person? In today’s episode, host Yael Eckstein explores the biblical story of Korah, a man so wealthy that he got a false sense of importance and began a rebellion against Moses – and against God Himself. Do you know what happened next? Let’s just say it didn’t end well for Korah. While most of us know that money is impermanent, sometimes we can lose sight of this in day-to-day life. However, as Yael shares with us, if we count our good deeds instead of our money, we will discover how truly wealthy we all are in the eyes of God! For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

The entire fate of the Israelites turned on one word: BUT. Instead of entering the Promised Land, the children of Israel were condemned to wander the desert for another 40 years. One word. If we’re honest, we’ve all made the same mistake. Maybe you’ve said, “I got a new job, but it’s really hard”? Or maybe, “My son gets good grades, but he struggles in sports.” That one word diminishes our blessings, transforms positives into negatives, blocks us from the Promised Land and keeps us in the desert. Yet, as host Yael Eckstein explains, we can take that same word and use it to strengthen our faith and overcome our own giants and obstacles. Discover how on today’s podcast. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

What is your name? Do you know the meaning of your name, or why you were given your name? According to Jewish tradition, every person has three names: one that they are called by their parents, one that they are called by others, and one they are remembered by. On today’s episode, podcast host Yael Eckstein shares verses from the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), and some fascinating Jewish teachings that will help us understand the meaning of our names, the role they play in our spiritual lives, and why each one of us has the amazing opportunity to choose a name for ourselves. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

More than 3,500 rockets have been fired into Israel by Hama terrorists in Gaza, and while there have been calls for a ceasefire, Israelis are bracing for more. As casualties continue to mount and conflict has broken out on other fronts, podcast host Yael Eckstein, President and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, answered questions about the current situation during a recent Emergency Fellowship Family Meeting with 10,000 supporters and friends on the call. Listen to this special crisis edition of “Nourish Your Biblical Roots,” as Yael speaks from the Holy Land about how the conflict started, Israel’s response, and what The Fellowship is doing on the ground in Israel to help those under attack.

What if you were asked to name the most important quality in a person of faith? What would you say? Honesty? Purity? Compassion? Scripture actually has an answer to this question. In honor of the Jewish holiday Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, which begins tonight, we’ll learn about the one quality that can take our faith to the next level. The biblical figure Ruth demonstrated this quality when she followed her mother-in-law Naomi back to Israel and joined the Jewish people. So did the nation of Israel when they accepted God’s Torah unconditionally at the foot of Mt. Sinai. In today’s podcast, host Yael Eckstein will explain how both these biblical stories connect to the holiday of Shavuot, and why the quality of unconditional commitment — or commitedness — to God and His Word matters the most. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

It’s human nature to want to fit in, isn’t it? In fact, sometimes we sacrifice what makes us different in order to be like everyone else. But God made each one of us as unique individuals with a different role to play in His Kingdom. In today’s episode, podcast host Yael Eckstein takes a deeper look at how the twelve tribes of Israel were placed when they encamped in the desert and what lessons this can teach us about the blessings of being true to who God created us to be. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

Want to receive more blessings in your life? If so, you might consider doing… less. That’s right! Conventional wisdom says that the more we work, the more we will achieve… and the more blessings we’ll have in our lives. But as we’ll learn on today’s podcast, that isn’t always the case. Host Yael Eckstein explores a biblical directive, known as the sabbatical year, to let the land lay fallow every seventh year. The spiritual message for us? Sometimes we need to do less in order to receive more blessing in our lives. Listen now! For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

As kids, who didn’t count down the days until the end of school and the beginning of summer vacation? Even as adults, we sometimes count down the days to an important event — a milestone birthday, a wedding, or a special vacation. But if you think about it, in counting down the days, we can mistakenly relegate those days as obstacles to get through in order to reach the anticipated event, rather than as the priceless gift that each day is. On today’s podcast, host Yael Eckstein shares biblical verses that direct us to count each day in a way that celebrates the moment. Through ancient Jewish teachers, we will learn how counting each day — in the right way — is the secret to making every day count. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

We all want to have a positive influence on others and leave our mark on the world, but how do we do that? More importantly, where do we start? On today’s episode, podcast host Yael Eckstein explains how the service of the High Priest on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, teaches us how to be a positive influence. We’ll learn from Yael’s teachings and personal experiences that the best way to spread God’s light and be a positive influence starts from the inside-out. If we want to impact the world around us, the best place to start is inside ourselves. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

Our God-given ability to speak has incredible power. On today’s episode, podcast host Yael Eckstein shares Jewish teachings that reveal how our words have the potential to cause terrible destruction, but also the potential to build, to heal, and to inspire. We will explore how to harness this great power in order to speak only good things into our lives and into the world. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

What does it really mean to be kind? The definition of kindness, according to Jewish thought, might not be as simple as we might think. On today’s podcast, host Yael Eckstein explores Jewish teachings from the Bible about what true kindness is… and what it isn’t. And these lessons can be gleaned from the biblical laws of eating kosher! Additionally, we discover how acts of authentic kindness can impact our lives in ways we could never imagine. Listen now! For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

Think you know the whole story of the Israelites’ redemption from Egypt and the splitting of the Red Sea? Think again! On today’s special Passover episode, podcast host Yael Eckstein shares Jewish teachings about what happened in the moments before the Red Sea split and the lesson it teaches us about overcoming obstacles, acting in faith, and seeing miracles in our own lives. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

It has been said that if you win the morning, you win the day. On today’s podcast, host Yael Eckstein shares a Jewish teaching about the priest’s daily service as described in the Bible, first in the Tabernacle and then later in the Temple, which offers us some interesting insights on how we should approach each new day. By adopting the right mindset, Yael explains we can experience every day with maximum joy, clarity, and productivity — and win the day! For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

Wouldn’t it be nice to always feel so blessed that your heart overflows with gratitude no matter what’s going on in your life? In today’s episode, Yael Eckstein talks about the importance of recognizing our blessings and giving thanks to God — even during hard times … especially during hard times. Jewish tradition teaches that having an attitude of gratitude is essential in our service to God and is a critical component for living a joyful life. While it can be hard to feel truly grateful when we are facing challenges, Yael reveals how it’s always possible. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org. This week’s Torah portion, the parsha, is called Vayikra, which means “and he called,” and covers Leviticus 1-5. In this parsha, we read about the sacrifices and offerings that were brought to the Tabernacle, God’s temporary sanctuary, and later on in history, to the Temple. As Yael explains, even though we no longer bring the sacrifices described in the Bible, the verses still contain eternal messages relevant to our lives today. The verses that Yael focuses on this week are from Leviticus 2:4-7, which read, “If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it is to consist of the finest flour: either thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in or thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with olive oil. If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle, it is to be made of the finest flour mixed with oil, and without yeast. Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it is to be made of the finest flour and some olive oil.” While these verses describe the different types of grain offerings, Yael reveals these verses teach us important lessons about expressing daily gratitude and how we can cultivate a grateful heart during the good times in our lives, as well as during more challenging times. In this episode, Yael talks about how she maintains a state of gratitude in her own life. She discusses the challenges of living in Israel, but how her annual trips to Ukraine, where she distributes aid to elderly Holocaust survivors, help restore her perspective. Yael also shares the Jewish teachings and rituals that help her maintain a constant state of feeling grateful and blessed, including the prayer that she recites the first thing each morning as soon as she opens her eyes. Discover the daily practices of cultivating a grateful heart that Yael learned from her parents and that she is now passing down to her own children, and how we can incorporate these same principles into our own life so that we can feel blessed, joyful, and thankful every single day of our lives. No matter what. Check out this complimentary downloadable chapter from Yael’s book, Generation to Generation, about teaching our children the value of gratitude and how you can pass along those principles to your children and grandchildren. Read Yael’s daily devotionals. Read Yael’s latest weekly message. Sign up for Yael’s daily devotions and weekly messages. Learn more about the <a href="https://www.ifcj.org/"

Have you ever felt like everything in life is falling apart? Have you ever felt like giving up? For many of us, this past year has presented many challenges and difficulties. In this episode, podcast host Yael Eckstein reveals what Moses did when he built — and rebuilt — the Tabernacle many times over and what his actions teach us about how to rebuild after experiencing setbacks in our lives. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org. This week’s Torah portion, the parsha, is called Vayakhel-Pikuedai and covers Exodus 35:1-40:38. In this parsha, we read about how the Israelites built the different components of the Tabernacle and then brought them to Moses who erected the structure and anointed it. In today’s episode, Yael focuses on Exodus 40:17, which reads: “So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year.” While most of us would gloss right over this verse without a second thought, Yael shares ancient Jewish teachings about what really happened when Moses set up the Tabernacle. As Yael explains, according to Jewish tradition, Moses had set up and taken down the Tabernacle repeatedly through the Israelites’ journey in the desert. But what Moses did when he erected the Tabernacle over and over again conveys an important message for anyone going through hard times. Every one of us experiences setbacks in life, both physically and spiritually. However, we have all been given the ability to rise up and rebuild over and over again. In this episode Yael opens up about her personal journey going from “sitting shiva,” mourning her father’s sudden death, to sitting in his chair as the new president and CEO of The Fellowship. She shares how this very verse from Exodus 40:17 inspired her and gave her the strength to keep going. This podcast episode will give you, too, the power to rise again, fueling your spirit to help you get through anything and come through it stronger than ever before. Read Yael’s daily devotionals. Read Yael’s latest weekly message. Sign up for Yael’s daily devotions and weekly messages. Check out Yael’s new book, Generation to Generation: Passing on a Legacy of Faith to Our Children. Learn more about the lifesaving work of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Follow Yael on Instagram at Yael_Eckstein and on Facebook at YaelEckstein.

Have you ever felt like you don’t matter? Or that what you do simply doesn’t count for anything? Podcast host Yael Eckstein shares another way of understanding God’s command to Moses to count the people of Israel found in this week’s Torah portion and its important message about our true value and power to change the world for the better. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org. This week’s Torah portion, the parsha (listen to Episode 1 for more information on this ancient Jewish Bible reading plan), covers Exodus 30:11 through Exodus 34:35. In this episode, Yael focuses on the first verses of the portion, which read, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them’” (Exodus 30:11-12). While this verse may not seem particularly inspiring at first, Yael reveals deeper layers of meaning that become apparent when the passage is studied in Hebrew, the language in which it was originally written. In exploring what God intended in ordering that the people be counted, Yael reveals a powerful message about the value of each person and how each one of us has the potential to profoundly impact the entire world. In a world of 7 billion people, we often lose sight of our uniqueness and importance. In this episode, Yael shares stories from her own life, as well as Jewish teachings about how much each of us matters and how knowing our true value can — and should — guide our choices and actions every day of our lives. Read Yael’s daily devotionals. Read Yael’s latest weekly message. Sign up for Yael’s daily devotions and weekly messages. Check out Yael’s new book, Generation to Generation: Passing on a Legacy of Faith to Our Children. Learn more about the lifesaving work of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Follow Yael on Instagram at Yael_Eckstein and on Facebook at YaelEckstein.

Uncover the hidden message in God’s commandment to use olive oil to light the Lampstand in the Tabernacle. Yael Eckstein will explain how this ancient source of light teaches us how to access light in dark times, and become a much-needed source of light in the world today. For more information on today’s episode visit nourishyourroots.org.

Discover the most ancient Bible reading plan in the world, that was first established in the 6th Century BCE and is followed by Jews around the world today. On today’s program, Yael Eckstein will share why this tradition is so relevant to Christians and how it can profoundly impact your walk with God. For more information on today’s episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.

Join Yael from the Holy Land as she shares spiritual insights, lessons from the Torah, and conversations about life in Israel.