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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What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
“The human creature… has come on the scene endowed with two new qualities, a mind which can know, and the ability to experience which is another way of knowing. If man is going to survive, …
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We Have Been There Before
“‘We live in a decadent age. Young people no longer respect their parents. They are rude and impatient. They inhabit taverns and have no self-control.’ This sounds very contemporary. It was inscribed on an Egyptian …
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What Our Children Can Inherit From Us
Rabbi Levi Olan’s December 1, 1968, radio sermon was one of several that he preached on the topic of parenting. Speaking to parents (and perhaps grandparents), his question of the day was what can our …
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You Are Your Own Worst Enemy
“The paradox of our existence is that we must lose our selves in something outside ourselves in order to experience our real selves.” November 24, 1968 The full title of this sermon could be “You …
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A Case for the Older Generation
In November 1968, at the age of 65, Rabbi Olan addressed the generation gap and the younger generation’s call to never trust anyone over 30. As usual, he saw both sides of the issue. On …
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Living Demands Wisdom
“The truth is that life requires more than knowledge. We need to become wise.” On November 10, 1968, Rabbi Olan spoke about the modern (and post-modern) dilemma of people being inundated with facts and information- …
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We have created great power
“We have created great power, yes, power enough to destroy all of life on earth. The primary question today is – are we mature enough, wise enough to control such deadly power?”
– Rabbi Levi A. Olan. From “Living Demands Wisdom,” broadcast November 10, 1968.
(20220723 #236)
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Issues of faith and the coming elections
“We had better face up to the demands of justice, compassion, and brotherhood if we truly seek peace, order and life itself.” In this sermon delivered on November 3, 1968, Rabbi Olan uses the upcoming …
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Is There Anything Sacred Today?
“The heart of the religious experience is the distinction between the sacred and the profane.” October 27, 1968 Rabbi Olan observed in 1968 that this distinction was disappearing. He even saw the positive side of …
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The Gift of Memory
“What a blessing it is to remember.” In his October 20, 1968 radio sermon, Rabbi Olan spoke about memory. He began with a brief nod to the importance of remembering bad experiences and learning from …
Rabbi Levi A. Olan: The Conscience of the City 