As the High Holy Days come to a close, Jews around the world spend one last day in an intense celebration with God before resuming their normal routines.Simchat Torah, a day whose name means “Rejoicing in the Torah,” is unlike any other observance we experience in synagogue.As Yael Eckstein describes in this podcast, the entire congregation—from the youngest children to the oldest adults—takes out the Torah scroll and joins in a never-ending circle of dancing and singing. The celebration marks the completion of reading through the Torah, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, before the reading cycle begins again.But the lesson of Simchat Torah lasts all year long, Yael teaches. This joyful day is a reminder that the way to stay close to God and transform inspiration into action throughout the year is through His Word. Listen now!Visit our Learning Center to learn more about Simchat Torah.
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The Spirit of Sukkot
Do you know the one holy day that the entire world will celebrate in messianic times?According to the biblical prophet Zechariah, it’s the Festival of Tabernacles, or as it’s called in Hebrew, Sukkot (Zechariah 4:16).Unity among all of God’s children is a major theme of this joyous biblical celebration. And this week, Yael looks to the lessons of Sukkot to find practical ways that bring us together.In our world that often feels increasingly divided, Sukkot’s spirit of unity can bring goodness, pleasantness, and blessings to all of our lives.Learn more about Sukkot by visiting our Learn Center.And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.
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The Holiest Day
Have you ever found yourself needing to apologize to someone… and dreading it? Or have you been hurt by someone who refused to apologize for something they did to you?Saying “I’m sorry” can be one of the hardest things to do.On this podcast episode about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, Yael Eckstein explores how those two words—“I’m sorry”—relate to the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Admitting our wrongdoings, committing to change, and moving forward is what this biblical holy day is all about.When we say, “I’m sorry”—and when we mean it—God has mercy and He forgives. And those two little words have the power to heal relationships and change the world for the better.Learn more about the High Holy Days by visiting our Learn Center.And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.
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Sound the Trumpets
In the Holy City of Jerusalem—and in synagogues around the world, the sounds of the shofar have been heard for the past month. For thousands of years, his biblical trumpet has been calling people to reflect, repent, and return to God.On this podcast, Yael Eckstein continues her exploration of the Jewish High Holy Days by focusing on one of the main rituals of this holiest season: the sounding of the shofar.Yael explores why the Jewish people use a shofar to prepare themselves for the new year, and how its many sounds are a call to self-reflection and self-improvement, to repentance, and to return to God.Join Yael as she explains the symbolism and messages of the shofar, and how its sounds through each of our lives, all year round.Learn more about the High Holy Days by visiting our Learn Center.And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.
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A Season to Return to God
As people usher in a New Year on January 1 with parties and celebrations, how many are thinking about repentance? It’s probably not very many.But when Jewish New Year is welcomed on Rosh Hashanah, the main focus is on repentance, or teshuvah, which means to “return” to God. The sound of the shofar—the biblical trumpet made from a ram’s horn—calls us to reflect on the past twelve months, to fix anything in our lives that hasn’t been helpful, and to return to God—who is waiting for us with open arms.In this special Rosh Hashanah episode, Yael Eckstein takes a biblical look at repentance, its significance for all of us as people of faith, and how returning to God will nourish our souls and transform us into the people we are meant to be. Listen Now!And listen to more of Yael’s Bible teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.
About Nourish Your Biblical Roots with Yael Eckstein
Explore the ancient Jewish roots of Christianity and their relevance to your life today with podcast host Yael Eckstein, President and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Join Yael from the Holy Land as she shares spiritual insights, lessons from the Torah, and conversations about life in Israel. This podcast will take you on a unique journey through the Bible that will deepen your personal connection with Israel and offer you inspirational insights into your Christian faith.
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