Dr. Alyssa M. Cady

Dr. Cady serves as the director of the Center for Interfaith Dialogue at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan. She recently joined Emanu-El from New York University, where she worked as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Religious Studies. She completed her PhD in Religion at Princeton University in 2022, where she focused on material culture, literature, and intellectual history. Her interests include the rise of the cult of saints in early Christianity, Jewish-Christian relations in the late Roman Empire, and the study of art and iconography in synagogues and basilicas across the Mediterranean. At Temple Emanu-El, Dr. Cady dedicates herself to leading interfaith dialogue groups, organizing community events, and lecturing on religious traditions. She hails from the rainy woods of Portland, Oregon, where she spent her time hiking, caffeinating, and curling up with a good book. After long stints in Minnesota and New Jersey, Dr. Cady has relocated to New York where she has explored the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as the highs and lows of being a burgeoning Mets fan. She is thrilled to be a part of such a lively and welcoming community, and looks forward to building the Center for Interfaith Dialogue for years to come.