Yechiel Eckstein. Photo: Wikipedia.

Yechiel Eckstein

Founder and President of IFCJ

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, as the founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, continues to strengthen ties between groups such as Jews and evangelical Christians.

It should come as no surprise that his just-released biography, authored by Zev Chafets, is titled “The Bridge Builder: The Life and Continuing Legacy of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.”

Eckstein’s group, which has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to programs that help Israel and Jews around the world, remains relevant by fostering new relationships.

In August 2015, he led a trip to Israel by more than 20 high-ranking ministers from the Church of God in Christ, the largest black Pentecostal denomination and fourth-largest Protestant group in America, with 12,000 member churches.

“The pastors reminded us that the Jewish people and the State of Israel do not stand alone,” Eckstein said at the time. “Today, we envision a new era in bridge building between the African-American Christian community, Israel, and the Jewish people.”