| Personal Details Summary | |
|---|---|
| Name | Yael Eckstein |
| Age / How old is Yael Eckstein? / Birthday / Date of Birth | As of 2025, she is around 41 years old. |
| Wedding & Marriage / Husband / Engaged / Spouse / Partner | Married. Check the full bio for relationship details. |
| Children / No. of Kids | 4 |
| Ethnicity / Origin / Yael Eckstein Religion / Race | Jewish |
| Nationality | Israeli-American |
| What faith is Yael Eckstein? | She shares her views on the Jewish faith and Jewish-Christian relations through radio programs like Holy Land Moments and Israel Today, airing on nearly 1,000 global radio stations. |
Yael Eckstein Wikipedia Biography / Profile Background
Introduction :
- Yael Eckstein is recognized for her prominent role as the President and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), also known as The Fellowship.
- She has taken on the responsibility of leading the IFCJ with the same passion and commitment as her late father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. Yechiel, a rabbi of Israeli American descent, established the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) in 1983 and served as its leader for an extended period. He was born on July 11, 1951, in Winthrop, Massachusetts, United States, and passed away on February 6, 2019, in Jerusalem, Israel.
- Yael’s main achievements include being named one of The Jerusalem Post’s 50 Most Influential Jews in both 2020 and 2021. In 2023, she received the Humanitarian Award from The Jerusalem Post, further solidifying her influence in Jewish life and humanitarian work.
Personal Life, Parents and Family Details :
- Raised in Chicago, Yael was born in Evanston, Illinois, and is the daughter of the late Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. Yael’s father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, played a significant role in her life, preparing her for her current position as the CEO of IFCJ.
- Yechiel and Yael shared a strong bond, speaking regularly and celebrating numerous family occasions together. Yael also had the privilege of working alongside her father at The Fellowship for 15 years. The sudden loss of her father due to a heart attack was a heart-wrenching experience for Yael, leaving her shattered.
- For close to two decades, Yael is married to an Israeli husband, with whom she made “aliyah” (immigrated to Israel) in 2005. The couple has four children.
Education : Qualifications, High School & College :
- Yael has studied at various educational institutions – Torat Chesed Seminary in Israel, Queens College in New York, and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She holds degrees in Biblical Studies and Jewish and Sociology studies.
Career, Income, Salary and Net Worth :
- Yael Eckstein is mainly known known for her leadership role in the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). She inherited the responsibility from her father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who had founded and presided over the organization.
- The IFCJ has raised an estimated $1.4 billion, mainly from evangelical Christians, since its inception in 1983. As the de-facto Chief of IFCJ, Yael oversees 200 fellowship employees across various locations, including Chicago, Israel, Korea, Brazil, and Canada.
- Yael’s career at IFCJ began with humble responsibilities, such as stamping envelopes. Over the years, she worked her way up through various positions, including Global Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, and Director of program development and ministry outreach.
- In 2019, following the passing of her father, Yael assumed the role of President and CEO of The Fellowship. She also serves as the organization’s international spokesperson.
- How much does Yael Eckstein make? : In 2023, some controversy arose regarding Yael and her father’s compensation, with leaked files revealing attempts to remove content reporting their combined $4 million annual compensation in 2019.
- A publisher author, with many books to her name, Yael has written books like “Holy Land Reflections” (2012), “Spiritual Cooking with Yael” (2014), and “Generation to Generation” (2020).
- Yael regularly blogs, writes op-eds for The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post, and speaks at international events. She hosts The Fellowship’s radio program called Holy Land Moments and two podcasts, “Nourish Your Biblical Roots” and “Conversations with Yael.”
Awards and Recognition :
- Yael Eckstein’s numerous awards and recognitions include being named “One of Israel’s 100 Most Influential Women” by Makor Rishon in 2014, featuring on the cover of Nashim magazine in 2015, and being recognized by the Algemeiner Journal as one of the Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life in 2019.
- She was named one of The Jerusalem Post’s 50 Most Influential Jews in 2020 and 2021 and received the Humanitarian Award from The Jerusalem Post in 2023.
Interesting Facts and Trivia :
- Yael practices Orthodoxy but describes herself as a “religious rebel” who connects to Judaism through spiritual eyes
- For a few years when she was young, Yael was a former teacher in New Jersey. She recalls her father’s jesting about her becoming a wealthy lawyer while she had aspired to be a veterinarian to save animals’ lives. Nevertheless, circumstances led her to her current successful position at IFCJ.
Body Figure / Physical Info
Yael Eckstein Measurements :
- Eye Color : Brown
- Haircut / Hair Color : Brown
- How tall / Yael Eckstein Height : 5′5″
- Feet / Legs / Boots / Shoe Size : No confirmed information is available.
- Pregnant? : Currently, she is not expecting a baby.