← Mark Levin Podcast
Mark Levin Podcast
On The Front Lines - Standing Together: Christians and Jews Against Rising Hatred
00:34:42
Loading summary
Transcript37 lines
- [00:01]
A
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has been on the ground in the Holy Land for more than 40 years, providing food and shelter safety to those in need. They deliver meals to the elderly, place bomb shelters in vulnerable places, bulletproof ambulances, and donate life saving equipment to hospitals. That's only scratching the surface of their work. I strongly urge you to join me in supporting this fellowship in this life saving work. To learn more and help the fellowship continue this urgent work, please go online to IFCJ.org today. That's IFC cj.org Mark Levin and the.
- [00:36]
B
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews bring you on the front lines. Hello everybody, it's Mark Levin with our friend Yael Eckstein. And this is season two, episode one of our great partnership, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in Westwood 1. As we promote the state of Israel, the Holy Land, the people who live there, and the relationship between Christians and Jews. And I have to be honest with you, if it wasn't for ifcj, I'd be very concerned about this. And as Yael will explain and has explained in the past, over the decades and so forth, it is a natural relationship between Christians and Jews. It is a God certified relationship between Christians and Jews. It's and people are trying to come between us. People are trying to create all kinds of havoc.
- [01:31]
A
And that's why it's so important that.
- [01:33]
B
We have this podcast with our friend Yael Eckstein with ifcjl. How are you my friend?
- [01:40]
C
Oh, thank you for having me back. I'm so happy to be with you, Mark.
- [01:44]
B
It is a great, great pleasure. And you're there and you're in the Holy Land. Tell us about this spiritual link, especially since October 7th. But generally the spiritual link, as you describe it and explain it, between Christians.
- [01:59]
C
And Jews, well, we're living in historic times right now, Mark. I think everyone can see what's happening is something that our parents didn't experience in their lifetime. In the past generations. We saw of course, the Holocaust. And I think both of us have family members who are Holocaust survivors. Many people murdered there. And of course, the world still is not at the number of Jews today as there was before the Holocaust. And we saw the founding of the state in 1948 and 1967, the miracles that God really did for Israel and the Jewish people in not only having Israel survive, but reuniting Jerusalem so that Israel could be in charge and provide freedom for everyone and protect the worship sites for Jews and Christians and Muslims alike. And we're living in times now now where the darkness has set in once again, that for 80 years the world was saying, never again. Never again. And what we see after October 7th is that the world is saying, oh, right, this again. And they're even supporting it. And so I believe that this is something of a spiritual warfare that we're all feeling. And it's a historic time that we've never seen before in the sense of. During the Holocaust, of course, we had Christian heroes like Corrie Ten Boone and Pastor Bonhoeffer. But today we have hundreds of millions of Christian heroes, just like Corrie 10 boom, just like Pastor Bonhoeffer, who are going against the tide of this rising hatred against Jews and standing unified with Israel and with their Jewish brothers and sisters.
- [03:39]
B
As you deal with the Christian community, I deal with it too. There are real heroes there. And I'm finding that with the kind of language, the kind of anti Semitism, the kind of hate, the effort to try and drive a wedge between Christians and Jews, redefine what Judaism is and redefine what Christianity is actually, too, I feel that people are coming to the fore, groups are coming to the fore, and they are challenging this more and more, especially over the last six or ten months. Do you see this too?
- [04:12]
C
Wow. I see that as the darkness grows, so does the light. So the organization, the ministry that I lead, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, this past year, we've been able to help more people than ever. And what we do on the ground in Israel is feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the poor. We've built thousands of bomb shelters. And within the darkness and within the hatred that we're seeing on mainstream news and feels like social media is bombarded with this hatred, we're seeing millions of individual Christians stand up and say, I want to be partnered with God to be the watchman on the walls of Jerusalem. I want to feed the hungry in Israel. I want to clothe the naked. I want the Jewish people home from all four corners of the earth who are facing persecution and anti Semitism and hatred. And what we see is that there are two things that have changed today. Number one, we have Israel. And Jews and Christians know that Israel isn't just a political story. This is a spiritual story. This is testament to the fact that God is alive. His words are forever. His promises are together. And he calls us to stand together in bringing his goodness and kindness to this world. How good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwell together. And the second thing that we're seeing, Mark, is that it's not only against Jews. This hatred and darkness is very, very much targeting the Christians as well, right here over Israel's border in Syria. In one day, there was over 1,000 Christians killed in Syria by the new government. And we at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews have gone into Syria to provide food boxes to people who have lost everything. We've set up medical clinics for persecuted Christians in Syria. And you look at what's happening across Africa, across the Middle east, the terrorists themselves say it. They say, first we're going for the Saturday people, the Jews, and then we're going for the Sunday people, the Christians. First we're going for the little Satan, which is Israel, and then we're going for the big Satan, which is America. So this is no longer just a Jewish problem. This is people of faith, people who sanctify life, who stand in these Judeo Christian values. We're under attack. And it's beautiful to see how within this threat, we're coming together, love and with light and through the fellowship, coming together to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the poor.
- [06:45]
B
Beautiful. Do you find also on the Jewish side of things that more and more Jewish people that you come in contact with, more and more Israelis are really thankful for what you do and the relationship that you have helped build here with the Christian community?
- [07:02]
C
Wow. It is so humbling to. Sometimes I'll walk down the street and people will be like, oh, my God, you're Yael from the fellowship. You represent the Christian community. Tell them thank you. Tell them I love you. I love them. Tell them that, you know, everyone in Israel is praying for them. Tell them that we have their back the same way they have our back. And it's something that is so humbling and beautiful to me because this wasn't always the case. When my father, Rabbi Gil Eckstein of Blessed Memory, started the fellowship 42 years ago, the Jewish community was very hesitant, was very skeptical, was very. They weren't so quick to reach out their hands in return to the Christian community that was preying and loving on them. And so the times have changed significantly. And listen, I always say you can't blame the Jewish community for being reserv at first, wanting to see what the. What the story with these Christians who love Israel and the Jewish people are. Because the only thing that Jews knew about Christians before the fellowship was what they learned in the history book. So it was, do you want to kill us or do you want to convert us? Which one do you want to do? Because throughout history, that's what the Christians wanted from us that we're not only part now of bringing light to this dark world, we're not only part of bringing biblical prophecy to fruition, but we're part of writing a new chapter in history, one that we will never go back to what was before, one that our children and our grandchildren know. Jews and Christians stand together. This is a new reality. And that's the definition of repentance, that you change your ways, you start a new book. And the Christian community has proven that they are righteous, that they stand with goodness even when it's not trendy or cool. They'll stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem even when the rest of the world is putting Israel and Jerusalem down. They will financially support Israel. The humanitarian efforts and the security of Israel from their tithes, from the widow's might to be able to just plant a seed in Israel for security and safety that all of these very righteous acts that the Christian community globally has been seeding into Israel has really taken root. The people of Israel know without a doubt who are our closest friends, our greatest allies, our most reliable partners, spiritually and physically, practically the Christian community.
- [09:40]
B
No doubt about it, no doubt about it. And same in the United States. And I think our Christian brothers and sisters are so, so important. And of course, the Holy Land is their holy land too. I want to touch on that when we come back, but I really want to focus Also on October 7, given how close that anniversary is coming upon us. Number two years, for crying out loud, it's unbelievable. So, ladies and gentlemen, it's Mark Levin and I'm speaking to Yael Eckstein. She is a fantastic young lady. You can hear with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. This is season two, episode one of on the Front Lines. We'll be right back. Foreign.
- [10:30]
A
As you all know, the Holy Land is under attack every single day. Rockets constantly rain down on the north. The war in Gaza rages and the people of Israel are suffering along with the many Americans who stand with Israel. I want to help in any way I can. That's why I'm partnering with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. The Fellowship has been on the ground in the Holy Land for more than 40 years, providing food, shelter and safety to those in desperate need. They deliver meals to the elderly, place bomb shelters in the most vulnerable places, bulletproof ambulances, and donate life saving equipment to hospitals. That's only scratching the surface of their great work. As anti Semitism continues to rise around the world, the people of Israel and our Jewish Brothers and sisters need us now more than ever. I implore you to join me in supporting the Fellowship in this life saving work. To learn more and to help the Fellowship continue this urgent work. Please go online to IFCJ.org today. That's IFCJ.org thank you and God bless you. Welcome back.
- [11:41]
B
This is Mark Levin with our friend Yael Eckstein of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews on the front line. Season 2 Episode 1 Our wonderful partnership.
- [11:52]
A
And by the way, I should mention.
- [11:53]
B
If you want to learn more about this mission and this fellowship, if you want to participate in it, and let me tell you something, you will feel wonderful if you do. You will feel blessed if you do. Go to ifcj.org ifcj.org that's for International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Ifcj.org yeah, it's important, I think, for people to remember that there is a thriving Christian community in Israel and it's really the only place in the entire Middle east where there is one. You were talking about Syria where Christians are being slaughtered and Israel is trying to come to their defense. They're being slaughtered and they have been.
- [12:33]
A
Removed throughout the Middle east as they.
- [12:35]
B
Are now in Africa and so forth. And these holy sites in Israel, in the Holy Land, Jewish and Christian, I don't think they would exist but for the fact that Israelis and Israel are there to defend them. When you look in Afghanistan, for instance, they've destroyed all the Buddhist sites and so forth and so on. They want to erase the history of the Jews and Christians. Isn't that true?
- [13:00]
C
Wow. It is so heartbreakingly true, Mark. I pray every day for the Christians in Nigeria where over 7,000 Christians have been massacred since the beginning of the year. And people don't hear about this. They don't know about it. But here in Israel we do know, because we know what it means to be a minority. We know what it means to be persecuted and targeted. And that's why the Fellowship does everything to help the Christian community both in Syria by setting up the medical clinics and delivering food boxes to our Christian brothers and sisters right over Israel's border in Syria that we partner with the Israeli army to deliver. But also here in Israel, in Nazareth, for example, the Fellowship together with the government of Israel has helped to build a hospital for the Christian community around Christmas. We deliver food boxes the same way that we deliver food boxes for Rosh Hashanah and Passover to the Jewish population. And the Fellowship helping all the different populations here in Israel represents that freedom and that appreciation for Christians that we have in Israel, the Garden of Gethsemane, these are sacred places that Israel has preserved, protected, provide security for, so that no one can go in and do anything bad to it. And as we see more and more Christian holy sites across the Middle east being destroyed, it's even more important than ever that Israel is protecting and preserving and even developing these holy sites. You know, Israel just invested a lot of money in the Old City of Jerusalem to unearth the path that Jesus walked. And so we have in the old City, going from outside the old city gates all the way up to where the temple stood. We know the exact steps that he took. And this is something that Israel is dedicated, invested in uncovering, because Christian history, this is where it all began. It was Jesus of Nazareth. And so in Nazareth, Israel is, of course, in charge and able to help the Christian community grow and prosper and thrive. But in a place like Bethlehem, Israel used to be in charge there. There were 80% Christians. Now the Palestinian Authority is in charge, and it's under 15% Christians. And so we continue to pray for the Christian community, help the Christian community preserve the sacred Christian holy sites in Israel. And this war of darkness and evil is something that each one of us can do our own part to just open our eyes and recognize the difference between good and bad, between goodness and light, between those who sanctify life, sanctify these holy sites that hold our heritage, and those who want to destroy it.
- [15:53]
B
That's beautiful. You're listening to Yael Eckstein of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. I strongly encourage you to check out their site@ifcj.org and if you want to participate in this and you want to give a tax deductible gift, I just encourage you to do that because their work is so crucial. IFCJ.org well, October 7th, it seems like a lot of the world really doesn't care about it anymore or has forgotten about it, or they just overlook it. I notice President Trump brings it up all the time. He wants people to remember because he saw some of the horrendous videos, and that is enshrined on his brain. He says, I wish I hadn't seen it, but I saw it, and I know what I saw. And he saw monstrous, unimaginable death cult doing horrendous things that the mind can't even imagine to innocent human beings at a festival, at some of the kibbutzim. And it's something that no country can tolerate, certainly not Israel. But let Me ask you that, how has that day changed in Israel and the world's view of Israel, oddly enough?
- [17:07]
C
Well, it's really interesting, Mark, because in Israel, there was a very different experience than what happened outside of Israel. In Israel, we've been praying for peace, wanting peace and believing that peace is possible from the time Israel was established, reaching out our hands in partnership and hope and with different opportunities to give the Palestinians a state, to give them land, to do anything to try to bring peace. Of course, we jumped on the opportunity for the Abraham Accord when there was the possibility that President Trump brought to have peace with our Arab neighbors. Wow. And that's been a historic achievement. But on October 7, what we saw was that the Palestinians in Gaza, who are being ruled by Hamas, they don't want peace. And we're not dealing with people who sanctify life. We're dealing with people who can slaughter children sleeping in their bed, can take out a fetus from a mother's stomach and beheaded, can burn people alive and ravage entire cities without any remorse, can call their parents bragging that they just killed 10 Jews. That in Israel, what we realized is that there's a time to reach out your hand in peace and there's a time where you just have to defend yourselves. And so since October 7th, we've been in a position that we realized this is our very survival. We saw what they want to do to us. They don't just say, from the river to the sea, meaning we'll wipe out all the Jews in Israel, but they actually are taking practical, tangible steps to make that happen. And so in Israel, what we realized was the war after October 7th, no one's trying to punish the Palestinians. No one's trying to come with to get out our anger. This isn't about anger. This is about protecting our children. This is making sure our children and our grandchildren will still be here tomorrow and the state of Israel will still be here tomorrow. Because if we don't protect it, it won't Israel. The tiny country size of New Jersey has been attacked by seven different countries in the past two years. Over 35,000 rockets that have been launched at Israeli cities. And you know, I'll tell you that my son, after the Iranian war, when we were living in our bomb shelter and the ground was shaking and there were ballistic missiles overhead and a part of a missile landed in a children's park right down the street where my kids play. And after the war was over, I was walking with my son, my 10 year old, my baby, out on the street. And there was another siren. And my son looked at me as we're running to the shelter and he says, mommy, I thought there was a ceasefire. How is there another rocket? And I said, there's the ceasefire with Iran. This is probably from Yemen, that this is what Israel has been facing. So we have to realize that in Israel we're protecting our children and we'll do anything in order to do that, to make sure that we are protecting our borders and setting the ground groundwork for life outside of Israel. Though the hatred for Israel, the anti Semitism has only grown. And this is an old story. This is spiritual warfare. And we see people who are the same way. They're burning Israeli flags, they're burning American flags the same way, they're pro Hamas, they're pro Osama bin Laden, that this is a spiritual darkness and warfare that's taken over. But I can tell you, Mark, that the people of Israel are so resilient and so dedicated within this hatred to continue spreading love. I want to tell you just one story of an incredible man named Daniel who the Fellowship actually brought him an aliyah to Israel. And he came as a lone soldier and joined the idf. And he was very dedicated to protecting this land. He came from Ukraine and he was attacked by terrorists. He lost his leg in battle. The Fellowship was there in the hospital with him, helping him along the recovery, telling him how he's not alone, how Christians are praying for him. And Daniel left the hospital and what he said was the only thing he wants to do is now volunteer for the Fellowship. And so almost every single week he brings food boxes to elderly. And this is for me, the light in the darkness, that we are a people, Christians and Jews in Israel and America, that are continuing this cycle of giving, of hope, of love, even within the darkness of a post 10-7-world.
- [21:41]
B
That's a beautiful story. I mean this whole Judaism and Christianity, faith based values and principles and belief systems just is incompatible with this other ideology which does just not believe in life and believes in, in the afterlife that you'll be rewarded the more mayhem and death you create in this life. It's just a terrible, terrible thing. We're going to take a little break. This is on the front line. She is Yahliel Eckstein. You've heard of her. I mean, she's ubiquitous, she's fantastic. And the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and you've heard of them, I want to urge you, encourage you, become part of that mission. It is a fantastic mission and I'm going to tell you you're going to feel great about it, but it's in life when you participate in it. You can go to ifcj.org, ifcj.org, check them out. We will be right back.
- [22:42]
A
As you all know, the Holy Land is under attack every single day. Rockets constantly rain down on the north. The war in Gaza rages and the people of Israel are suffering along with the many Americans who stand with Israel. I want to help in any way I can. That's why I'm partnering with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. The Fellowship has been on the ground in the Holy Land for more than 40 years, providing food, shelter and safety to those in desperate need. They deliver meals to the elderly, place bomb shelters in the most vulnerable places, bulletproof ambulances and donate life saving equipment to hospitals. That's only scratching the surface of their great work. As anti Semitism continues to rise around the world, the people of Israel and our Jewish brothers and sisters need us now more than ever. Implore you to join me in supporting the Fellowship in this life saving work. To learn more and to help the Fellowship continue this urgent work, please go online to IFCJ.org today. That's IFCJ.org thank you and God bless you. Welcome back.
- [23:48]
B
This is season two episode one of our great partnership, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in Westwood. One big, big network, but much bigger.
- [23:58]
A
With our friends here, ifcj.
- [24:01]
B
If you want to learn more about IFCJ and I want to encourage you to do that, go to ifcj.org that's the international Fellowship of Christians and Jews. I just like the name, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. And we should be partnering in the defense of Judaism and Christianity, our holy land and our holy sites and our people. That's the bottom line. And this is what this mission was founded to do by her wonderful father, Rabbi Eckstein. Let me ask you this, Yael. So we touched on it very briefly. We see this rise of anti Semitism. We see the rise in the United States, certainly in Europe, the push for Palestinian statehood right in the middle of this war where Hamas is still slaughtering people, still holding hostages, torturing them, starving them, murdering them. And we see this narrative out there, these international bodies like the United nations. We see our Western media almost sounds like Al Jazeera in the United States, in Europe, and frankly, some even in Israel. It's very upsetting. What do you make of this trend?
- [25:12]
C
Well, I see the darkness, Mark, and I see the hatred that's spreading and growing. And for me, personally, what I like to do is actually to focus on the love and the light and the hope. Because within this darkness, we've been called, each one of us, to choose a side. And you know better than anyone, Mark, it's not easy to choose a side. It's not easy to choose the side of sanctity, of life, of being a proud person of faith, of being a proud American, of being a proud Israeli. When all these demonic forces in the world are trying to get us to apologize for our faith, apologize for. For what God himself said is righteous and sacred. We're seeing a rise in people who are overcome with. With evil. But we're also seeing so many people who are led and inspired to stand up and say, hineni, here I am. I need to get my voice out. And from the very first hours after October 7th, what I saw is an outpouring of love and prayer from Christian friends around the world. The silenced majority, I would say, who have continued that prayer for the peace of Jerusalem and standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel and the Jewish people. To this day, two years later, we continue to pray that the hostages will be released, continue to pray that Israel's borders will be protected. And in fact, you know, we started a project Last year around October 7th, Flags of Fellowship, where we invited churches to plant 1,200 Israeli flags in their yards just to show solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people. And the whole idea was, the evil forces are burning the Israeli flags. The forces that stand for life are going to plant them. And as Jews in America are scared to wave the Israeli flag, Christians will wave it for them. And we were hoping, Mark, to get like 25 or 50 churches signed on this first year, the first year, last year, we got over 250 churches that said they wanted to join. And this year, now the second year, we've over 1200 churches. That's over 1.5 million Israeli flags that are going to be waving. Yes. On church grounds. And what I see in that is that the light is so much stronger than the darkness. And in a world that's tempted to forget or distort every act of love and courage, it's a testimony that God's truth endures. And so I'll just tell you one quote from Pastor Bonhoeffer that. That I think really speaks to this or maybe two of them. He said this. He said, God is not a God of the emotions, but a God of truth. And that's what I see in the Christian community continuing to stand with Israel. And another thing that he said was that one act of obedience is worth a hundred sermons. And that's what I'm seeing. There are so many acts of obedience and that's what I believe is inspiring others and starting this snowball effect of bringing more goodness into the world.
- [28:28]
B
And it's interesting, we see what you seem to be encapsulating here. We see in most instances the people, or many people understand what's taking place, understand what's needed. And then you see some of the institutions that are failing us, the government institutions, the United nations and so forth. So maybe some of these so called leaders or activists do one thing, but common men and women who understand right from wrong, who understand morality, who understand their faiths, Christianity, Judaism, even some of the other faiths, they understand what's right. That seems to be what you're saying. And they are coming forward or they need to be encouraged to come forward. Right?
- [29:15]
C
100%. You said it so beautifully, Mark. I believe that there's a silenced majority. Not silent, silent, they're silent. They've been silenced by the mainstream media, they've been silenced by the algorithms. But now there are so many individuals who will no longer stop getting their voice out there that they are insistent, they are persistent. And that voice is being heard and distributed, told to the world, amplified through the international fellowship of Christians and Jews.
- [29:48]
B
And I think we should all take advantage of these different platforms, whether it's podcasting or social media and so forth. You got, as you point out, these dark forces who do these things, but the forces of light, the forces of humanity and compassion, the forces of Judaism and Christianity, we need to make better use, I think, of these tools and these platforms. I mean, doesn't that make sense? We shouldn't leave it to. And by the way, you and your organization have taken the lead in showing people how to do this with your presence here in this podcast and your presence on cable and your presence on the Internet and so forth and so on. This is sort of a leadership thing that I think people should be very interested in trying to emulate.
- [30:36]
C
I think everyone can do their part. And we're each called with a different mission. Some of us are called to like you, to be on Fox News and to have your voice just distributed everywhere for people to be able to be inspired by. And some of us are called to speak to our church groups or synagogues or our families or to just write down our own social media page, even when with not so many followers. But I believe by getting our voice out There, God hears it. God uses it, and he uses it sometimes in ways that are even surprising to us. But as long as we wake up each day and say, I am your servant, Lord, use me in whatever way possible, and we continue to try to bring truth into the world and goodness into the world and sanctity of life into the world, I believe God will use each one of us in exactly the precise way.
- [31:29]
A
You know, you can hear in your.
- [31:30]
B
Voice, the way you express yourself, that you really are a very positive person, even when it seems very dark, even as a result of October 7th, so many people have. I mean, it's been very difficult psychologically for so many people, and I'm sure for you and your family, too. But there you are, a person of faith, a person who has a very, very important mission and role in life. And it's very, it's profound. It's very difficult to do. And I just want to thank you. I'm sure millions of people listening want to thank you. And I want our listeners to participate in this, this podcast is very, very important, but I want you to participate in this fellowship, in this mission, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. IFCJ.org Please jump in with both feet. Even if it's just a little bit, do something. I'm telling you, you're going to feel great about it. Yael Eckstein, this is on the front lines. Season two has begun. I want to thank you for everything you and your volunteers are doing and please let them know that we do appreciate them.
- [32:40]
C
Thank you so much. God bless you and all of you, your incredible listeners.
- [32:45]
B
All right, you too. God bless and be safe. All right, folks, I love this talking Diel Eckstein and about what she's doing on there on the front lines. And we will see you next time. Don't Forget, check out ifcj.org that's ifcj.org God bless. To learn more about the International Fellowship.
- [33:05]
C
Of Christians and Jews, visit IFCJ.org.
- [33:14]
A
As you all know, the Holy Land is under attack every single day. Rockets constantly rain down on the north. The war in Gaza rages, and the people of Israel are suffering along with the many Americans who stand with Israel. I want to help in any way I can. That's why I'm partnering with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. The Fellowship has been on the ground in the Holy Land for more than 40 years, providing food, shelter and safety to those in desperate need. They deliver meals to the elderly, place bomb shelters in their most vulnerable places, bulletproof ambulances and donate life saving equipment to hospitals. That's only scratching the surface of their great work. As anti Semitism continues to rise around the world, the people of Israel and our Jewish brothers and sisters need us now more than ever. I implore you to join me in supporting the Fellowship in this life saving work. To learn more and to help the Fellowship continue this urgent work, please go online to IFCJ.org today. That's IFCJ.org thank you and God bless you.