“Human existence by its nature cries out for chesed, loving-kindness. We need to receive it and give it if life in this dangerous world is to survive.” In this wide-ranging and challenging sermon of January …
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A New Look at Good Will
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Right Will Prevail
“It is solemnly and piously announced that God, justice, and truth will always prevail.” Sometimes it’s difficult to believe in God or a higher power, especially when it seems that everything is going wrong. In …
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On Legislating Morality
“Life without law is an unthinkable nightmare.” In his November 29, 1964 radio sermon, Rabbi Olan expounded on the relationship between law and morality. “If we now ask ‘do laws make men moral?’ it is …
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This Nation Under God
[Abraham Lincoln] “lived as he wanted the country he loved so much to live, reverent and dedicated to God’s moral demands.” February 28, 1965. Please follow the “read” link to access the full sermon text. …
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Slander – An Unforgivable Sin (A second introduction)
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs) In his sermon “Slander—An Unforgivable Sin”, of February 7, 1965, Rabbi Olan justifies the inclusion in the Ten Commandments of the Ninth Commandment: the …
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Slander – An Unforgivable Sin
“The human tongue is a two-edged sword. It speaks words of love, beauty and hope… The tongue, however, can speak fraud, slander and lies.” In this radio address, Rabbi Olan discusses lashon hara, or slander. He …
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On Taking the Shortest Route
“Indeed life demands maturity, the growing up both emotionally and mentally. The promised land in all cases lies at the end of a hard and long road.“ In his sermon of January 31, 1965, Rabbi …
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On Taking the Shortest Route
“The symptoms of immaturity are all around us; anxiety, fear, guilt, self-centeredness, and many other of the abnormalities which describe modern life.” There are many possible shortcuts in life. In his January 31, 1965 radio …
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Are We Free To Choose?
“God sends Moses to Pharaoh to tell him to let the Hebrews go out of Egypt. He then tells Moses, ‘I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and he will not let them go.’“ This passage from …
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The Test of Loyalty
“Americans emphasize liberty but tend to forget loyalty. We want the freedom to become as rich as is possible without regard to the poverty and suffering of our neighbors.” In his January 3, 1965 radio …
Rabbi Levi A. Olan: The Conscience of the City 