Yael Eckstein – IFCJ Responds in Times of Crisis in the Shadow of War

As rockets roared overhead and air raid sirens filled the morning air, 92-year-old Zelda hurried toward the nearest bomb shelter. In the rush to reach safety during yet another attack, she fell, leaving her injured and unable to care for herself.

When Yael Eckstein, President and Global CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, received word of Zelda’s desperate situation, The Fellowship stepped in, and the emotional moment attracted widespread attention on social media.

Eckstein has walked this wartime journey with her people for nearly two years now. She has witnessed the firsthand effects of prolonged warfare on Israel’s most vulnerable citizens. Living alone without adequate food or support, Zelda represents thousands of senior Israelis caught in an economic firestorm that has transformed the country.

“I was at the scene of a horrible ballistic attack just a block away when I got word that a 92-year-old elderly woman was living alone, who doesn’t have food, and she fell on the way to the bomb shelter this morning,” Eckstein explained, still visibly moved by the encounter. “So immediately I rushed over with prepared meals and emergency food boxes.”

The Human Cost of Warfare: The Fellowship Answers the Call

The statistics paint a sobering picture of how the war has impacted Israel. The nation’s poverty rates have surged from 18% before the conflict to 22% today, with families bearing children facing a devastating 24.2% poverty rate.

Single-parent households have been hit even harder, experiencing a 24.9% poverty rate, while the ultra-Orthodox community grapples with a staggering 39.7% surge. Most heartbreaking of all, nearly one-third of children under four now live in poverty; they have become a generation growing up in the shadow of economic uncertainty.

In response, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has scaled emergency aid to meet immediate needs. The Fellowship’s winter warmth programs deliver heating assistance, blankets, and warm clothing to seniors, children, and families in underheated homes.

Through partnerships with local agencies, the organization also distributes food, medicine, and hygiene products to tens of thousands, often within hours of an urgent request. Children, families, and seniors are among the most vulnerable.

IFCJ’s Comprehensive Response to Crisis

Under Eckstein’s leadership, IFCJ has emerged as a critical lifeline for Israel’s most vulnerable populations. The organization’s response to the current crisis demonstrates both the scale of need and the innovative approaches required to address war-induced poverty. Between October and December 2023 alone, IFCJ delivered $19 million in emergency aid to hundreds of thousands of Israelis affected by the conflict.

This assistance has taken multiple forms, reflecting the organization’s understanding that poverty requires comprehensive solutions. Beyond immediate food relief, IFCJ provides medicine, hygiene products, and housing support to families displaced by violence. The organization’s approach recognizes that war-induced poverty differs from traditional economic hardship and requires both immediate intervention and long-term rebuilding strategies.

“The war has taken a heavy toll on Israel’s economy, affecting employment and the livelihoods of countless families,” Eckstein explained. “We must not only provide immediate relief but also work towards long-term economic stability. Our goal is to ensure that every act of support contributes to a sustainable future for Israel.”

IFCJ’s Faces of Iron campaign, launched in June 2024, played a crucial role in humanizing the conflict’s impact while mobilizing international support. Through powerful photography and personal testimonies, the campaign has shared the stories of survival and resilience that define Israel’s response to the crisis.

“The Israeli people have put aside their individual needs for the good of all, coming together to stand with and protect the people and places of Israel, and save lives,” Eckstein shared.

The Fellowship’s Work and Yael Eckstein’s Salary

Leadership transparency has also been part of IFCJ’s approach. Questions about Yael Eckstein’s salary occasionally surface online, but the organization points out that compensation for its CEO reflects the scale and scope of IFCJ’s operations, which span multiple countries and serve more than two million people annually.

The board-approved salary follows U.S. nonprofit guidelines, with oversight to ensure it supports strong leadership capable of directing large-scale humanitarian responses. In February 2025, the organization announced the completion of a salary audit.

“Financial accountability and responsible donor stewardship are at the core of our mission,” said Robin Van Etten, IFCJ’s U.S. CEO and Global Chief Operating Officer. “This audit reaffirms our commitment to transparency, ensuring that our compensation structures—particularly for our President and CEO, Yael Eckstein—remain competitive while reflecting the values and responsibilities of our organization.”

It’s key to remember that the Fellowship’s reach goes far beyond Israel’s borders. During the first year of the war in Ukraine that began in 2022, IFCJ provided more than $28 million in aid, assisting displaced families and refugees. This includes helping thousands of Ukrainian refugees make aliyah to Israel and evacuating 1,600 children and staff from orphanages and children’s homes.

These efforts, led by Eckstein, have earned international recognition and reflect the organization’s steadfast commitment to protecting and uplifting those in crisis. Whether in times of war or peace, IFCJ remains a lifeline for children and families in desperate need.

Building Bridges Through Crisis

As Eckstein unpacked emergency supplies for Zelda, the woman’s excitement was palpable. “Eggs, right? You like that? Onion. Good,” Eckstein said, translating Zelda’s Hebrew responses. “She’s saying, ‘I like this. This is good… Oh, it’s all healthy. Thank you for giving me healthy food.”

This moment captured more than just immediate relief; it demonstrated IFCJ’s broader mission of building bridges between communities during crises. The organization’s interfaith approach has proven particularly powerful during the current conflict, uniting Christians and Jews worldwide in support of Israel’s vulnerable populations.

Eckstein’s leadership philosophy, rooted in spiritual principles and practical compassion, has guided IFCJ’s expansion during the crisis. Drawing from Leviticus 8:24 and Moses’ blessing of Aaron’s sons, she emphasizes three key leadership traits: attentive listening, diligent hands, and bold action.

These principles have shaped IFCJ’s response to war-induced poverty, ensuring that aid reaches those most in need while building sustainable support systems.

“‘Comfort, comfort, my people,'” Eckstein said, quoting Isaiah’s prophecy that guides much of IFCJ’s work. “That’s what we’re doing for Zelda.”

The organization’s work extends beyond crisis response to address the root causes of vulnerability. IFCJ’s trauma centers across southern Israel, including the recently opened facility in Shahhanegev with 11 treatment rooms, recognize that recovery from war requires both physical and psychological healing. These centers provide individual and group therapy for evacuees returning to communities where they witnessed loved ones killed and kidnapped.

For Zelda, unable to get out of bed due to injuries from her fall to the bomb shelter, the arrival of Yael Eckstein represented more than emergency aid – it was recognition of her dignity and worth in a time when society’s most vulnerable often become invisible. Her repeated expressions of gratitude, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” echoed the appreciation of thousands who have received IFCJ’s support.

“There are so many elderly like her who need our help now,” Eckstein emphasized. “It can’t wait till tonight. It can’t wait till tomorrow. I’m seeing the desperation.”

As Israel approaches nearly two years of sustained conflict, the story of Yael Eckstein, The Fellowship, and 92-year-old Zelda highlights both the devastating cost of war and the power of organized compassion to provide hope.

Through IFCJ’s comprehensive approach that combines immediate relief with long-term rebuilding strategies, the organization continues to demonstrate that even in the darkest economic times, acts of kindness can bring great healing.