In a recent video shared to her Facebook page, Yael Eckstein, President and Global CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, spoke on the harsh reality that her family faces as Jews living in today’s world. The Eckstein family’s upcoming vacation had to be drastically changed due to concerns about anti-Semitic threats. They had to cancel several vacation activities, avoid Jewish institutions while traveling abroad, and even refrain from sharing their travel details publicly–all out of fear for their safety.
Yael’s message is more than a personal anecdote; it is a call to awareness for us all, as people of faith. “This is what it means to be a Jewish person in 2025,” she says, explaining her family’s decision to avoid synagogues, kosher restaurants, and Jewish gatherings. Her words are a poignant reminder that, now more than ever, anti-Semitism is a real crisis affecting real people.
However, her message is also one of resilience. “We will not let evil win. We will be spreading the light of God wherever we go,” she declares, thanking Christian allies who continue to stand with the Jewish people, recognizing their support as a source of strength in dark times.
Yael’s story is not isolated. It reflects a broader, alarming trend: anti-Semitism is surging across the globe. According to the 2025 Jewish Landscape Report, a sweeping survey led by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, 76% of Jews worldwide now identify anti-Semitism as their most pressing concern. In the UK, 81% of British Jews say they feel the need to hide their Jewish identity in public. In France, anti-Semitic incidents have surged by 185% since 2021.
One of the most harrowing recent examples occurred on July 27, 2025, at a highway service station near Milan, Italy. A 52-year-old French Jewish man named Elie and his 6-year-old son were violently attacked by a mob. After passersby noticed their kippahs, they verbally accosted Elie and his son with cries of “murderers” and “genocide.” As Elie tried to document the abuse on his phone, he was knocked to the ground and kicked in the stomach.
Amid the chaos, a bystander shielded Elie’s terrified son, who was visibly distressed. “If simply being Jewish is enough to provoke such a violent attack—if a family cannot safely move through public spaces in this country—then the legitimization of hatred and antisemitism has become viral,” said Noemi Di Segni, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities.
There have been too many such incidents. In recent months, an Israeli tourist was assaulted on a beach in Greece, and 1,600 Israeli travelers were forced to reroute from Syros after demonstrators made clear they were unwelcome. The Milan-based Antisemitism Observatory reported that anti-Semitic incidents in Italy nearly doubled last year from 454 in 2023 to 877 in 2024.
These attacks are not merely expressions of hate; they are symptoms of deeper societal issues. As Stefano Gatti, a researcher at Osservatorio Antisemitismo, noted, anti-Semitism in Italy is increasingly disguised as humanitarian or anti-fascist rhetoric, legitimized by political parties and amplified by mainstream media.
In the United States, the situation is equally dire. Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre in Israel, anti-Semitic incidents reached record highs. Violent attacks, such as the targeted terror incident in Boulder, Colorado, where pro-Israel demonstrators were assaulted and set on fire, highlight the severity of the threat. The FBI has confirmed that anti-Jewish hate crimes have soared to unprecedented levels.
A separate report published in January 2025 found that 46% of the world’s adult population harbors deeply entrenched anti-Semitic attitudes—an estimated 2.2 billion people globally. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent a climate of fear and hostility that affects Jewish lives every day.
In the face of this rising tide of anti-Semitism, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) has continued to act as a beacon of hope. For over 40 years, The Fellowship has worked to protect and uplift Jewish communities through humanitarian aid, security initiatives, and aliyah programs that help Jews immigrate to Israel.
Yael has continuously emphasized The Fellowship’s mission to “fight darkness with light.” Since the October 7 attacks, The Fellowship has distributed millions in emergency aid, installed more than 200 bomb shelters, delivered fortified vehicles, and provided thousands of helmets and flak jackets to frontline workers. These efforts are not just about physical protection–they’re about preserving dignity and hope.
In addition to emergency response, one of the Fellowship’s most important initiatives is facilitating aliyah–the immigration of Jews to Israel. As anti-Semitism worsens, many Jewish families are choosing to leave hostile environments and seek refuge in their biblical homeland. The Fellowship helps make this possible by funding flights, resettlement assistance, and integration programs.
Recognizing that millions of Christians around the world support Israel and the Jewish people, The Fellowship has invested millions of dollars in programs that educate and equip Christians to speak out against anti-Semitism.
“We are not trying to change anyone’s mind,” Yael explains. “We are engaging our Christian friends in order to reclaim that friendship, to make sure that we will continue to have between 50 and 100 million Evangelical Christians standing with Israel and the Jewish people, no matter what happens.”
One of the most prevalent ways that The Fellowship is engaging Christians is through the Flags of Fellowship movement. This campaign invites churches, synagogues and schools to plant 1,200 Israeli flags in remembrance of the 1,200 lives lost on October 7. As hate crimes against Jews surge globally, Flags of Fellowship mobilizes institutions as well as individuals to speak out in defiance of the hatred that continues to threaten Jewish communities. Led by The Fellowship, the movement transforms grief into solidarity, empowering Christians to live out their faith by showing their support for Israel. The Fellowship honors these faithful allies with spiritual resources, real-time updates from Israel, and opportunities to see their impact firsthand in building a movement of compassion and truth.
Through continued collaboration, The Fellowship empowers Christians to be vocal advocates for Israel. This partnership is not just symbolic–it’s also strategic. By amplifying voices of support, The Fellowship helps counteract the silence and misinformation that often surround anti-Semitic incidents.
Yael’s recent Facebook post, along with The Fellowship’s work indicates a singular truth: anti-Semitism is a growing threat, but it can be confronted through unity, faith, and action.
As Yael says, “Love is stronger than hate, and light always chases out the darkness.” Through the tireless efforts of organizations like The Fellowship and the unwavering support of Christian allies, Jewish families around the world are finding safety, dignity, and hope.
And in that shared mission–of standing against hate and building a future rooted in faith and compassion–we find the true meaning of solidarity.
Robin Van Etten is a seasoned nonprofit professional with 25 years of experience in direct response marketing and fundraising. She is currently the US CEO and Global Chief Operating Officer at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a nonprofit
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