“In a dictatorship, thinking is not only unnecessary, it is a handicap, it can lead to a criticism of men in power. But a democracy depends wholly upon a citizenry that can distinguish propaganda from fact, prejudice from reality.”
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Religion and Communism in the Public Schools
“It is an irony and a paradox that people who fear government authority want to use it in areas where it does not and should not belong.” If you only read the title of Rabbi …
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In the Face of Fear
“The answer to fear is courage. Our question is how can we find such courage to meet the fears of our lives.” In his sermon of December 24, 1961, “In the Face of Fear,” Rabbi …
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What Do You Want — Freedom or Security?
"There is no freedom without responsibility!" Rabbi Olan didn't use exclamation marks often, but when speaking on December 17, 1961, he wanted his message to be absolutely clear: finding the balance between freedom and security was (and is) a crucial issue of our time. "Our culture does not prepare people for freedom; on the contrary, it..."
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Olan sermon recording tape
Reel-to-reel tape of Rabbi Olan’s sermon “Justice Comes First,” November 19, 1961, as exhibited at Bridwell Library in 2014. Rabbi Olan’s hard-hitting words make even more impact when they are heard being delivered in his …
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Family Life – What is Wrong?
“There is something wrong with family life today and it is not a slight or superficial matter. People who cannot love, who have confused values, and who are without an affirming faith, cannot build a …
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Max Olan and Levi Olan, circa 1920.
Photograph of Levi Olan (r) with his father, Max Olan. Image courtesy of Bonnie C. Yankaskas.
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On Being Lonely
"Our loneliness is exhibited in our inability to talk with each other about ourselves and things that really matter to us." On December 10, 1961, Rabbi Olan delved into a study of modern loneliness -- how it affects us, the ways we try to avoid it, and how we may even find solace in it. Is it the lack of a shared...
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The Faith of Our Fathers and Our Own
“For many people in our country and elsewhere, God is dead.” When Rabbi Olan stated,“Ours is not the age of religious faith,” he was speaking of 1961. However, his observation is also true in our …
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Bertha Olan and Levi Olan, circa 1910
Levi Olan was born in the Ukraine. His younger sister, Bertha, was born in Rochester, New York. Image courtesy of Bonnie C. Yankaskas.
