Note the teddy bear in his pocket! Image courtesy of Bonnie C. Yankaskas.
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Young Levi Olan, circa 1908
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Wake Up and Live
"... while we are alive we are in need of something more — security, peace of mind, happiness — some undefined quality which is more than breathing or existing." Between the time Rabbi Olan gave this radio sermon on October 8, 1961 and today, the challenges to understand, adapt, and find genuine meaning in life relentlessly persist. The demands of...
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Is Religion Without Ritual Possible?
"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, but rather he...
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Let There Be Light
“[Human] life is possible only where there is light.” What comes to mind when you think about darkness and light? In his March 19, 1961 radio sermon, Rabbi Olan spoke of darkness being a fearful …
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Christianity and Judaism – What Do They Have in Common?
“Judaism and Christianity have their differences, but they are as one in their declaration that there is a spiritual reality at the heart of all nature and life.” Some people seek to build walls of …
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We are not here to be happy
“We are not here to be happy and to have peace of mind; we are not here because life owes us a certain amount of pleasure or security. Our business here is to help build the kingdom of God, or if you will, a world of peace, joy, and security for all the children of the earth.”
Rabbi Levi A. Olan. From “The Distinctive Message of Prophetic Religion” (March 5, 1961)
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The Distinctive Message of Prophetic Religion
"It seems that our very existence as a species rests upon our understanding the truth of the prophetic experience. We are all of us creatures, bound to each other by our common origin and destiny." On March 5, 1961 Rabbi Olan explored how religion reorients the way we understand our purpose in the universe. With its many facets, prophetic faith, he says, provides a critical foundation for us to find...
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Bridwell Library Archival Collection on Rabbi Levi A. Olan
Rabbi Olan had a small study space at Bridwell Library for many years. While he donated most of his professional papers to Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, Olan left some publications, copies of …
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The Faith of a Believing Few
"The task which confronts all of us is that of finding a cause we believe in and joining the group which is dedicated to its achievement." On February 26, 1961, Rabbi Olan confronted what it means to be in a minority group of thought, faith, and even history. It can be discouraging when your views do not seem generally accepted, he says, but so often it is only...
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The Widsom of Living
“To get wisdom [one’s] mind must be open to all knowledge, everywhere.” Rabbi Olan’s February 19, 1961 radio sermon encouraged his listeners to seek something that we all need: wisdom for living. Wisdom can be …
