Yael Eckstein

Latest

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  Jun 20, 2023

  World Refugee Day: Praying the wanderers can say 'We are home'

  As Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, we celebrate the fact that so many people who either began their lives as refugees, or became refugees later in life, have found their home.

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  Mar 29, 2023

  Thinking about the first Passover: Learning from the past to embrace the present

  As I celebrate Passover this year with my children, I’ll teach them of the Exodus story of the Bible, but I’ll also tell them the stories of Jewish people today — Jewish families like Svitlana’s—who teach us that God’s people can always turn to Him for rescue.

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  Dec 25, 2022

  Ukraine people — do they know it’s Christmas?

  The war raging in Ukraine doesn’t take a break for celebrations of Hanukkah and Christmas. Many Ukrainians are living in dire conditions, including no power, no clean water, no roof over their heads, and with food sources running out. Most are focused on survival, not celebration.

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  May 8, 2022

  Remember the mothers fleeing a war zone this Mother's Day

  Let’s celebrate the heroism of mothers this Sunday, particularly the ones trying to get their family out of a war zone. Thank God he made mothers, who are some of the strongest human beings on earth.

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  May 5, 2022

  The war in Ukraine reminds us that the founding of Israel was essential

  Israel’s independence is a miracle that’s blessing Jews fleeing Ukraine at this very moment. I’m confident it will continue to be a blessing for people around the world for generations to come.

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  Apr 14, 2022

  This Passover, remember the Jewish communities with little to celebrate

  As the season of Passover approaches, a time similar to the very first Passover is taking place in Ukraine. Tens of thousands of Jews, including some Holocaust survivors, are fleeing oppression and praying for God’s miraculous deliverance.

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  Mar 16, 2022

  Jewish holiday of Purim and the war in Ukraine reminds us of our need for modern-day Esthers

  In our world most people look out first for their own interests. Self-preservation is deeply ingrained in our human psyche. At times this is beneficial as it helps us avoid danger, but it too can tempt us to survive at the expense of others.

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  Feb 19, 2022

  As a Jew, this is why I celebrate Black History Month

  When the world largely ignores the suffering of those in distress, we must pay attention, step up and take action to alleviate that suffering in whatever way we can.

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  Dec 23, 2021

  Don’t skip this important part of our holiday traditions

  This is a season when a spirit of generosity ignites us and highlights the best of humanity. For those of us in the Jewish community, we have celebrated Hanukkah, lighting the Menorah and giving gifts. Now, my Christian friends are celebrating Christmas by lighting trees and giving gifts of their own.

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  Nov 6, 2021

  What we can learn from life’s tests

  We discover strengths that had been obscured by impurities. We discover the gold and silver that we didn’t know was there. God always saw it. But through the tests that He gives us, we see it, too.