Rabbi Levi A. Olan: The Conscience of the City

“The emphasis today is on the common man, not the uncommon.” In March of 1970, Rabbi Olan noted that informality in dress and in other areas of life was replacing long-established norms of respectful social …

‘To stake everything on… moments of faith is to inject into our blood stream zeal, ardor, joy, and hope.’ March 8, 1970 Rabbi Olan begins with the observation that ‘God’ means different things to different …

“The danger to any people is when it confuses itself with God.  America with its affluence, its power, is becoming so arrogant that it has replaced God.  Our fathers asked, ‘What doth the Lord require …

“The whole idea of moral principles is rejected by many people today.” In his February 22, 1970 radio sermon, Rabbi Olan lamented the “moral anarchy” of his day. He proposed that this problem was caused …

“The miracle of all miracles is the will and spirit of [humanity].” Rabbi Olan sets the stage for his sermon on miracles (delivered on February 15, 1970) by recounting the greatest miracle in the history …

“In very early times, men sacrificed the first born of animals and of man to the Gods in order that they may keep all the others. The God Moloch became the deity to whom men …

“The most frightful development today is the increasing insensitivity to the true, the good, and the beautiful.” Perhaps social criticism has never been very popular. However, in my brief 60 years, I don’t recall a …

“If we ever learn to obey the demands of justice and love… then we can have peace and good will.” This sermon, delivered on January 25, 1970, is one of Rabbi Olan’s most challenging reflections …

“Trouble is often the base for the creative life.” In this sermon, delivered on January 11, 1970, Rabbi Olan further develops two of his most important ideas: first, that faith leads to greater agency in …

In the year 2000, “religion will be more vital and dynamic than it has ever been in all of its history.” In 1970, as futurists predicted what life would be like in the year 2000, …