Nourish Your Biblical Roots with Yael Eckstein

In the second episode of this Nourish Your Biblical Roots season, Holy Land Digs, we return to Jerusalem to explore two of the holiest places in Jewish history—the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. From the ancient stones that witnessed centuries of worship to the sacred ground where God’s promises unfolded, we’ll discover why these places have remained at the heart of Jewish faith for thousands of years.
We’ll journey to where God tested Abraham’s faith, and we’ll explore how King Solomon built the First Temple in Jerusalem. We’ll also discover the remarkable history of the Second Temple, uncover archaeological evidence of its destruction by the Romans, and learn how the Western Wall became a sacred place of prayer and longing for generations of Jewish people.
We’ll hear teachings from Fellowship Founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, of blessed memory, and Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein, who shares the extraordinary story of Jerusalem’s reunification during the Six-Day War in 1967. We’ll learn about the unforgettable moment when a shofar sounded at the Western Wall for the first time in 19 years, and hear Yael’s touching account of her mother’s visit to Jerusalem just days after the war—a moment of hope and joy that connected generations of Jewish history.
Finally, we’ll discover how the Western Wall remains a living place of prayer today, where people from around the world gather to seek God’s blessings, and reflect on the words of Psalm 122, which call us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Join us as we explore these sacred places where biblical history, enduring faith, and God’s promises come together—and discover why they continue to inspire people of faith around the world.
Before we continue our journey around the Holy Land, see what you know about the holiest place in the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Welcome to a new season of Nourish Your Biblical Roots, Holy Land Digs! Throughout these eight episodes, we’ll journey across Israel, exploring the places where biblical history unfolded, uncovering remarkable stories from the past, and discovering how the ancient Holy Land continues to bring the Bible to life today.
In our first episode, we begin in Jerusalem—the Holy City that has stood at the heart of Jewish faith for thousands of years. From the Mount of Olives to the ancient City of David, we’ll explore the biblical history of Jerusalem, discover how King David made it Israel’s capital, and uncover fascinating archaeological discoveries that connect us to the people who walked its streets thousands of years ago.
We’ll hear teachings from Fellowship Founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, of blessed memory, and Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein, who tells of her family’s remarkable 11-generation connection to Jerusalem—including a touching story about the fulfillment of a centuries-old dream.
Finally, we’ll discover how Jerusalem has remained at the center of Jewish prayer and longing through generations of exile, and reflect on the beautiful promise of peace and restoration found in the words of the prophet Zechariah.
Join us as we explore the city where ancient history, living faith, and God’s promises come together—and discover why Jerusalem continues to inspire people of faith around the world.
Learn more about the holiest spot in the Holy City—a special place we’ll visit in the next episode of Holy Land Digs!

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Simchat Torah—Hebrew for “Rejoicing in the Torah”—and discover why one of the happiest days on the Jewish calendar is devoted to celebrating the gift of God’s Word. It is a day of singing, dancing, and joy—and a reminder that when it comes to studying the Bible, every ending is also a new beginning.
In this episode, Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein explains how Jewish people read through the Torah each year, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, and why the moment the final verses are completed, the cycle immediately begins again.
Jewish families celebrate Simchat Torah by dancing with Torah scrolls, singing together in synagogue, and teaching their children to treasure the sweetness of God’s Word. Studying the Bible is a lifelong journey and returning to the same Scriptures year after year reveals something new about God, ourselves, and the world around us.
The episode also remembers October 7, 2023—a Simchat Torah that became one of the darkest days in modern Jewish history. You’ll hear the stories of Tamar, an 83-year-old woman who prayed the Shema as terrorists repeatedly tried to break into her family’s safe room, and Ella, who lost two of her adult children in the attacks. Their stories reveal both the terrible cost of that day and the enduring faith of the people of Israel, as The Fellowship continues to stand beside survivors and grieving families with food, aid, and comfort.
Yet even after that dark day, Jewish families continue to celebrate. They still sing. They still dance. And they still return to Genesis and begin again. God’s Word and God’s faithfulness have never failed His people, and Simchat Torah teaches us that joy can endure even through sorrow and that every new beginning offers another opportunity to grow closer to Him.
Whether Simchat Torah is a holiday you’ve celebrated for years or one that you’re discovering for the first time, this podcast episode will deepen your appreciation for the eternal gift of Scripture and the joy found in studying it again and again.
Continue your journey through the Bible and the Jewish roots of your faith at The Fellowship’s Learn Center.

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—and discover why the holiest day on the Jewish calendar is not a day of fear, but a day of forgiveness, mercy, and the joy of beginning again.
In this episode, Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein explains the biblical origins of Yom Kippur and how this sacred day brings the High Holy Days to their conclusion. You’ll learn how Jewish people observe Yom Kippur through fasting, prayer, repentance, and reflection—and why the day is devoted not only to seeking forgiveness from God, but also to making peace with one another.
You’ll discover why asking forgiveness from another person is such an important part of Yom Kippur. True repentance requires us to take responsibility for the ways we have hurt others, make amends where possible, and find the humility to say two difficult but powerful words: “I’m sorry.”
And just as we seek forgiveness, Yom Kippur challenges us to extend grace to those who sincerely seek forgiveness from us.
The episode also shares the remarkable story of Anton Schmid, a Christian Austrian army sergeant who witnessed the Nazi persecution of the Jews of Vilnius during Yom Kippur in 1941. At enormous risk to himself, Schmid provided false identities, shelter, work, and escape to Jews facing death, ultimately helping save nearly 300 lives before the Nazis discovered his actions and executed him. His courage embodied the biblical words of the prophet Isaiah—that God calls us to care for the hungry, shelter the vulnerable, and help those in need.
Whether Yom Kippur is a holiday you’ve observed for years or one that you’re discovering for the first time, this podcast will deepen your understanding of the Day of Atonement and reveal the extraordinary gift at its heart. God offers us the opportunity to repair what has been broken, release the burdens of the past, and begin again.
Continue your journey through the Bible and the Jewish roots of your faith at The Fellowship’s Learn Center.

In this episode of Holy Days, Holy People, we explore Rosh Hashanah—the Jewish New Year—and discover why this biblical holiday is about far more than beginning another year. Rosh Hashanah is an invitation to wake up spiritually, examine our lives, return to God, and begin again.
Today, Fellowship President and Global CEO Yael Eckstein explains the biblical origins of Rosh Hashanah, which the Bible also calls the Festival of Trumpets, and why the sounding of the shofar remains at the heart of the holiday. Jewish families welcome the new year with sweet foods and joyful traditions, while also entering one of the most serious periods on the Jewish calendar—the Ten Days of Repentance leading from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur.
You’ll discover the meaning behind the different blasts of the shofar and the spiritual journey they represent: recognizing God as King, crying out to Him in our brokenness, and awakening from spiritual slumber to live with greater purpose. The shofar calls us to look honestly at the year behind us, ask where we can do better, and seek God’s help as we draw closer to Him in the year ahead.
The episode also shares the remarkable story of Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Meisels, who secretly sounded a shofar in Auschwitz on Rosh Hashanah in 1944. At enormous personal risk, he brought its ancient call to Jewish prisoners—including more than 1,000 boys facing death. In one of history’s darkest places, the sound of the shofar became a declaration that even when everything seemed swallowed by darkness, God’s people would continue to pray, remember, and believe.
You’ll also hear timeless teachings from Fellowship Founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, of blessed memory, as he explores teshuvah—repentance, or literally “return”—and explains why the Days of Awe offer an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and begin life anew. His teaching reminds us that God seeks His people and responds when we turn toward Him through repentance, prayer, and acts of charity.
Whether Rosh Hashanah is a holiday you’ve celebrated for years or one that you’re discovering for the first time, this podcast will deepen your understanding of this biblical holy day, reveal the powerful meaning behind the sound of the shofar, and encourage you to hear its call in your own life—to wake up, return to God, and step into a new beginning with Him.
Continue your journey through the Bible and the Jewish roots of your faith at The Fellowship’s Learn Center.