Lisa Anteby-Yemini

Lisa Anteby-Yemini is an anthropologist and Research Fellow at the CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research) since 1997. She was previously based at the French Research Center in Jerusalem for four years before joining IDEMEC (now IDEAS - Institute of Mediterranean, European, and Comparative Ethnology) in 2003. Her work is affiliated with Aix-Marseille University and she serves on various academic councils including the IDEAS Council and the Scientific Council of the French Research Center in Jerusalem.

Her research focuses on migration, diasporas, and transnationalism, with particular attention to Jewish and non-Jewish migration to Israel, especially Ethiopian Jews and Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers. She also conducts significant research on the anthropology of Judaism, gender and religion, and is currently exploring new female religious roles in Islam and Judaism. Her work bridges anthropology, religious studies, and migration studies with a strong emphasis on comparative analysis.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on gender dynamics within religious contexts, migration policies in Israel, and the experiences of African asylum seekers. She has developed expertise in comparative religious feminism, examining how women navigate and transform religious traditions in both Judaism and Islam. Her research on Ethiopian Jewish communities in Israel demonstrates deep engagement with identity transformation and cultural adaptation processes.

• Leader of European project Ramsès 2 (2008-2011) on gender in Judaism and Islam
• Recipient of A*MIDEX project (2020) on new female religious functions
• Member of Mediterranean Migration Research Network (MIMED-MMSH)
• Member of Contemporary Judaisms Axis (GSRL, Université de Picardie)
• Member of ANR PredicMo research project (2024-2027)
• Deputy Secretary-General of French Association for Israel Studies (AFEIL)

Anteby-Yemini has established herself as a leading scholar in migration studies with a focus on Israel, while simultaneously developing significant expertise in comparative religious feminism. Her interdisciplinary approach combines anthropological fieldwork with theoretical analysis to address complex questions of identity, migration, and religious practice in contemporary societies.