Ayala Fader

Ayala Fader is a Professor of Anthropology at Fordham University and founding director of the Center for Public Anthropology. Her research focuses on illiberal religion, gendered politics of health, and Jewish cultural identity. She authored award-winning books Mitzvah Girls (2009) and Hidden Heretics (2020), supported by NSF and NEH grants. Current projects explore Orthodox Jewish-Christian political alliances and public health conflicts.

• PhD: New York University

Her work bridges academia and social justice through initiatives like the Demystifying Language Project for public schools. Recent research examines Judeo-Christianity's evolution in modern political landscapes, analyzing intersections of race, scripture, and biblical philosophy.

Notable collaborations include the Material Religion special issue response and joint publication with Rachel Feldman. She participates in University of Pennsylvania fellowships focused on legal culture and contemporary Jewish life expressions.