Date

6-17-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)

Chair

Fred Volk

Keywords

masculinity, orthodox rabbis, Jewish literature, transcendental phenomenology

Disciplines

Religion | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of Los Angeles Jewish Orthodox rabbis in working with male congregants with respect to their masculine identity, development, roles and responsibilities. The textual framework guiding this study is the gamut of Jewish literature, spanning the Bible, the Prophets and Writings, the Mishnah, Talmud, Midrashic literature, and ancient, medieval and contemporary rabbinic commentaries, as understood through the worldview of the Orthodox Jewish community. Eight Orthodox rabbis in Los Angeles were interviewed toward the aim of discovering the essence of experience for participants. Across the data, four themes emerged: (a) character traits as multi-dimensional and dynamic; (b) navigating the male role in relationships with its two subthemes of male strength and sensitivity and male-female communication; (c) development through relational and experiential processes with its three subthemes of mentorship, modeling, and male-male communication; and (d) masculine identity as embodied in religious praxis. Alongside limitations, implications for practice and directions for future research are outlined.

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