The Bridge Builder: The Life and Continuing Legacy of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein by journalist Zev Chafets highlights the Rabbi’s unconventional, and sometimes controversial, approach to changing conventional wisdom of what Christians and Jews can accomplish together. Eckstien’s organization, The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) which is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the world, have worked together to forge a devoted partnership between the two groups and supporting the State of Israel.

The Bridge Builder discusses the unity of Christians and Jews. The book sheds light on how amidst criticism and adversity the gap has been filled with a bridge towards a new future. Without Eckstein’s efforts there would be a much wider gap.

In the book Chafets discusses his initial discovery of Eckstein. “In 2003, I was a columnist looking for a story when I first heard about an Orthodox rabbi from Chicago who was raising millions of dollars for Jewish philanthropy. What was surprising – astonishing, in fact – was that donations to his organization were coming from evangelical Christians, many of whom had never encountered a Jew in person,” said Chafets. While Eckstein saw himself as merely a means of fundraising he was actually a spiritual teacher who had the ability to Christians how to reestablish their biblical connection to the Land of Israel and the Jewish community.

The Bridge Builder gives an up close and personal look at Eckstein by revealing his beginnings, works and dreams for the future. Chafets does an excellent job of describing the man behind this illustrious bridge of hope and faith.