“In every great moment of man’s life, religious ritual becomes the instrument, the art form, if you will, by which he lifts his mundane experience and relates it to the larger meaning of all of life.”

When Rabbi Olan asks the question “is religion without ritual possible?” he does not distinguish among religions in his response; rather he speaks generally of how rituals give meaning and honor to our traditions, histories, and all that we celebrate. Importantly, he also speaks to how we can appreciate rituals of religions that are not our own. He delivered this radio sermon on March 26, 1961.

Enjoy the Sermon Here

“There is an aesthetic significance to rituals – they are the poetry of life.”