Yael Eckstein, president and global CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, addressed thousands of women at Turning Point USA's Women's Leadership Summit in Texas with a speech centered on faith, loss, and answering God's call.
Eckstein arrived from Israel, where she lives and works, and spoke about her journey taking over leadership of the organization after her father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, passed away suddenly seven and a half years ago. She described being young, grieving, and terrified when asked to step into his role as head of what she said is the largest nonprofit organization in Israel.
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters of Eckstein's message praised her emphasis on faith-based leadership and the partnership between Christians and Jews in philanthropy and social action. Many attendees described the speech as deeply moving, with several posting videos of her remarks on social media using the Hebrew term hineni, meaning "here I am."
TPUSA organizers highlighted the event as part of their mission to develop young conservative leaders across various backgrounds. Conservative commentators noted that Eckstein's message about courage over comfort resonated with themes common at the summit: resilience, faith, and stepping into leadership roles despite uncertainty.
Her reference to her 19-year-old daughter currently serving in the Israeli army near Gaza drew applause from the audience. Several attendees said they appreciated how she wove personal family experience into broader reflections on faith and duty.
What the Left Is Saying
Some progressive critics question whether religious organizations should play prominent roles in conservative political movements and coalition-building efforts. They argue that events centered on faith-based messaging can exclude people of different religions or no religious affiliation from participating fully in civic life. Others raise concerns about the blending of spiritual guidance with partisan activism, noting that humanitarian work carried out by organizations like Eckstein's spans multiple countries including Ukraine and Ethiopia but often intersects with politically conservative networks.
Some observers note that while interfaith cooperation between Christians and Jews has long historical roots, its modern political manifestations often align closely with specific policy agendas. They argue for clearer distinctions between charitable humanitarian work and the political organizing done at events like TPUSA summits.
What the Numbers Show
Eckstein told the crowd that under her leadership, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews now reaches more than one million people annually through its humanitarian programs. The organization provides food assistance to the hungry, shelter for Holocaust survivors, and aid delivery to war zones in Israel, Ukraine, and Ethiopia.
She also shared that her daughter commands 80 soldiers stationed less than half a mile from the Gaza Strip. Eckstein noted she has nights where she wants to hold on to her daughter "so tightly and never let her go," but said light is built through courage rather than comfort alone.
The TPUSA Women's Leadership Summit drew thousands of attendees, representing one of several annual events the organization holds to cultivate conservative young leaders.
The Bottom Line
Eckstein's speech reflects growing intersections between faith-based organizations and conservative political activism in the United States. Her message centered on answering God's call despite fear resonated with an audience gathered around themes of leadership, courage, and religious conviction. The event underscores how conservative coalitions increasingly incorporate interfaith elements, particularly Christian-Jewish partnerships, as part of their broader organizing efforts.