Rabbi Levi A. Olan: The Conscience of the City

In his sermon of February 13, 1966, Rabbi Olan returns to a favorite theme that he had developed in “On Taking the Shortest Route” (January 31, 1965): he argues that God instructed Moses to lead …

The first half of this week’s sermon, written January 30, 1966, is about the end of the world, and with his usual timelessness, Rabbi’s Olan’s words feel at least as relevant today as they must …

“ If there is a moral law in the universe, then if we choose the right we shall achieve the good.” In his sermon of January 23, 1966, Rabbi Olan begins by making it clear …

“In a world that is never finished, there is always hope, and hope is the greatest good of all.” In his sermon of January 16, 1966, Rabbi Olan says that the creation of the world …

This week’s sermon finds us entering 1966 (January 9), still in the midst of the civil rights movement, as Rabbi Olan reminds us that the prophetic faith “begins with the declaration that each person is …

“When we pray, is anyone listening?” “Indeed, it is almost impossible for a modern today to accept the belief in a God who listens to and answers the prayers of one person on earth.” In …

“The distinguishing characteristic of the Bible as it speaks of all of life is the recognition that the secular and profane must come under the control of the sacred.” In this sermon of December 19, …

“The beliving person lives with the faith that upon him rests the destiny of the world.” At exactly four minutes, “To Affirm a Faith” is the shortest sermon in the SMU online database… and perhaps …

“I place before thee this day,” said God, “good and evil, life and death. Choose thou the good, choose thou life.” In his sermon of December 5, 1965, Rabbi Olan develops the metaphor of the …