Troubling Orthopraxy: Jewish Divorce in Canada
Undergraduate Project / Graduate Student Project
Project Information
Professor Deidre Butler, Carleton University, Ottawa, a member of the HBI's Academic Advisory Committee, is completing a book based on an interdisciplinary ethnographic study that seeks to understand Jewish divorce in Canada at the intersections of Jewish practice, Canadian civil law and denominational practice. The project interrupts existing narratives about Jewish divorce and get abuse as an Orthodox problem and applies gender analysis to not only women's experiences but also divorcing husbands, rabbinic and civil legal practices.
Interviews with women, men, rabbis, activists and civil lawyers are complete and the writing of the book is expected to wrap up in the Fall of 2026. Professor Butler is looking for an intern to assist in the final stage with internet research, copyediting / citations, and collating research data from the interviews and existing research.
Profile of Appropriate Candidate
- Interest in Jewish Studies and basic knowledge of Judaism
- Knowledge of basic Jewish divorce law / issues in Judaism; law and legal studies background an asset, but not required
- Facility with Google drive/docs etc.
- Excellent writing skills (copywriting) and attention to detail (citations Chicago Manual of Style Notes and Bibliography).
- Ability to receive and seek out direction while working independently