The mission of this blog is to stimulate interest in the deeply perceptive and still-relevant teachings of Levi A. Olan (1903-1984) by sharing from the Levi A. Olan Sermons and Images at Bridwell Library Digital Collection. The title "Conscience of the City" was applied to Rabbi Olan by a Fortune magazine reporter in 1964. Although Olan's city was Dallas, his thought transcends locality. Our goal is to...
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Faith That Is Doing
“In the Prophetic view God is a law-giver, the author of both physical and moral law. The violation of either can prove fatal.” As 1962 drew to a close, Rabbi Olan spoke challenging words to …
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America – The Dream and the Image
“We will be free when we worship the God who made us instead of the gods we make.” In his sermon of December 16, 1962, “AMERICA – The Dream and the Image,” Rabbi Olan begins …
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Levi and Sarita Olan in 1931
Levi Olan married Sarita Messer on June 9, 1931. This picture is of their honeymoon tour of Europe. The itinerary included stops in Paris, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, and Venice.
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On Being Religious at Heart
“The institutions of religion merit critical indictment. They accept too easily the position of a vested business whose concern is the survival of the church or synagogue instead of the ideals of faith.” On December …
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Ideals and faith
“Ideals and faith are meaningless and impotent isolated in one man’s heart.”
– Rabbi Levi A. Olan. “On Being Religious At Heart.” December 9, 1962 -
Is Inter-marriage a Problem?
“The melting pot in America succeeded for the most part far better than its proponents a century ago ever dreamed. Many forces have been at work to break down barriers and throw people into a …
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Faith Does Not Pay
“People who do good because they want to win eternity are neither moral nor religious.” In this sermon, Rabbi Olan demolishes some sacred beliefs associated with capitalism, patriotism, Christianity, and even the Old Testament with characteristic …
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An Answer to War
"History is the record of threatening crises." When Rabbi Olan delivered his radio address, "An Answer to War," on November 18, 1962, the United States and Soviet Union had just weeks before...
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Watch Your Temper
"Like so many other traits of human behavior, anger can be both a virtue and a vice." In his sermon from November 11, 1962, Rabbi Olan challenges the ways in which anger is necessary in a society plagued by injustice yet destructive when...
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The Poor Condemn Us
“Providing for the poor has been for both Jews and Christians a prime religious duty.” Speaking to Dallasites and other North Texans on October 21, 1962, Rabbi Olan declared that privilege and prosperity come with …
