Nourish Your Biblical Roots with Yael Eckstein

<p>In this episode of <em>Jewish Voices, American Stories</em>, we’ll explore the powerful role Jewish musicians have played in shaping the soundtrack of America. From the concert hall to Broadway to the radio, music has always helped tell the story of our nation—and Jewish voices have played a part in that story in profound and lasting ways.</p><p>We begin with Itzhak Perlman, a world-renowned violinist whose journey from Tel Aviv to American stages captivated millions. Despite physical challenges from childhood polio, Perlman’s joy, warmth, and extraordinary talent have brought classical music into living rooms across the country—and reminded audiences that music has the power to unite, uplift, and inspire.</p><p>Next, Jimmy Burns takes us to Broadway, where composer Richard Rodgers helped define the golden age of American musical theater. Through iconic works like <em>Oklahoma!</em>, <em>South Pacific</em>, and <em>The Sound of Music</em>, Rodgers didn’t just write songs—he helped tell the American story itself, weaving themes of hope, justice, and human dignity into melodies that still resonate today.</p><p>Finally, CJ Burroughs shares a deeply personal reflection on Neil Diamond, a legendary singer-songwriter whose music became part of the fabric of American life. From the Brill Building to sold-out arenas, Diamond’s songs carried echoes of Jewish faith, longing, and identity—offering light, comfort, and connection to generations of listeners.</p><p>These stories remind us that music is more than entertainment—it’s memory, identity, and testimony. And through these Jewish artists, the soundtrack of America has been enriched with melodies of resilience, faith, and hope.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ifcj.org/learn?s_subsrc=EEX2600XXEXPE&amp;utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=learncenter&amp;utm_content=education&amp;utm_campaign=hoth">To learn more about God’s people—from the days of the Bible through the present—visit The Fellowship’s Learn Center</a>.</p>

<p>In this episode of <em>Jewish Voices, American Stories</em>, we’ll explore the Jewish writers whose words helped shape not just literature—but the moral and spiritual conscience of America.</p><p>We begin with Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor whose powerful testimony in <em>Night</em> brought the reality of unimaginable suffering into classrooms and hearts across the country. Through his writing, Wiesel bore witness to both the horrors he endured and the enduring themes of faith, justice, and human dignity.</p><p>Next, we meet Hannah Arendt, a brilliant thinker who fled Nazi Europe and later challenged the world to confront a difficult question: how ordinary people can become part of extraordinary evil. Through her reporting on the trial of Adolf Eichmann and her lifelong work, Arendt helped bring the moral complexities of the Holocaust into American thought—urging readers not only to remember history, but to learn from it.</p><p>Finally, we turn to Emma Lazarus, a poet whose words helped define the American ideal. Moved by the plight of Jewish refugees, Lazarus gave voice to a vision of the United States as a place of refuge and hope. Her poem “The New Colossus” forever transformed the Statue of Liberty into a symbol of welcome—inviting the world’s “tired” and “poor” to find a new beginning.</p><p>These stories remind us that words have power. They can preserve memory, challenge injustice, and inspire a nation to live up to its highest calling. And through these Jewish voices, the story of America has been shaped—line by line—by truth, courage, and hope.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ifcj.org/learn?s_subsrc=EEX2600XXEXPE&amp;utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=learncenter&amp;utm_content=education&amp;utm_campaign=hoth">To learn more about God’s people—from the days of the Bible through the present—visit The Fellowship’s Learn Center</a>.</p>

<p>Welcome to a new podcast season, <em>Jewish Voices, American Stories</em>. In this episode, we’ll explore pivotal moments when American presidents helped shape a nation where the Jewish people could belong—and thrive.</p><p>We begin at the founding of the United States, when George Washington answered a profound question for a small but faithful community: Would this new nation make room for the Jewish people? Through a historic letter to a Jewish congregation, Washington offered more than tolerance—he affirmed full belonging, promising a country that gives “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”</p><p>From there, we step into the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, guided by conscience and inspired by the Bible story of Esther, wrestled with what it meant to act “for such a time as this.” America would be cast as a “land of promise,” drawing deeply from Scripture—reminding us still that freedom is a calling.</p><p>Finally, we move to the world stage in 1948, when President Harry Truman made a decision that would echo through history. In the shadow of the Holocaust, Truman recognized the State of Israel just minutes after its founding—an act of moral clarity that forged a lasting bond between two nations shaped by faith.</p><p>These stories remind us that the story of America has always been intertwined with the story of the Jewish people—woven together by shared Scripture, shared struggle, and shared hope.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ifcj.org/learn?s_subsrc=EEX2600XXEXPE&amp;utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=learncenter&amp;utm_content=education&amp;utm_campaign=hoth">To learn more about God’s people—from the days of the Bible through the present—visit The Fellowship’s Learn Center</a>.</p>

<p>In this special Passover episode of <em>Nourish Your Biblical Roots,</em> Yael Eckstein and Bishop Paul Lanier explore one of the most powerful and meaningful stories in the Bible—not only for the Jewish people, but for Christians, too.</p><p>Passover commemorates God’s dramatic deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. But this biblical story of redemption isn’t just about the past—it is meant to shape our faith today.</p><p>In this moving conversation, Yael and Bishop Lanier reflect on what Christians should know about Passover, the Exodus, and the Jewish roots of their faith. You’ll hear why the Passover story leads to a deeper understanding of the Bible, and why the Seder meal speaks so powerfully to all people of faith.</p><p>Drawing from Scripture, Yael and Bishop Lanier discuss how Passover calls us to remember who God is, what He has done, and how faith in Him must be passed from one generation to the next. Around the Passover table, questions are asked, stories are retold, and hearts are reminded that God is still present in the midst of suffering… and that He is still bringing redemption.</p><p>This episode reveals a powerful truth: Passover is not only the story of Israel’s freedom. It’s a story of hope, remembrance, and faith for anyone who seeks to know God more deeply.</p><p>Listen now.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ifcj.org/learn/quizzes/test-your-knowledge-of-passover">What do you know about Passover? Find out by taking our quiz</a>!</p>

<p>In this special Passover episode of <em>Nourish Your Biblical Roots</em>, Yael Eckstein invites us into one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—biblical traditions: the asking of questions.</p><p>Passover is one of the most sacred holidays in the Bible, commemorating God’s dramatic deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. But Passover is not meant to be remembered passively—it’s meant to be experienced personally. And it all begins with a question:</p><p>Why is this night different from all other nights?</p><p>The Seder, the traditional Passover meal, was designed by God to awaken our curiosity. The specific foods, the symbolic rituals, and the retelling of the Exodus story are all meant to spark questions that lead us deeper into our faith.</p><p>Drawing from Exodus 12, Yael reveals how God instructed His people to prepare for the moment when a child would ask, “What does this mean?” Because in the asking, faith comes alive.</p><p>This episode uncovers a profound truth: God is not distant from our questions. He invites them. And when we come to Him with curiosity and humility, we don’t just learn more about the Bible—we draw closer to Him.</p><p>This Passover, rediscover the power of asking—and in doing so, draw nearer to God.</p><p>Listen now!</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ifcj.org/learn/jewish-holidays/what-is-passover">Join Yael’s family to learn more about the Passover celebration</a>.</p>