Levi Olan
Jewish rabbi, activist and author (1903-1984)
Levi Olan was a prominent American Reform Jewish rabbi, born in Ukraine in 1903. He spent his formative years in Rochester, New York, and went on to pursue his religious studies at Hebrew Union College, where he was ordained in 1929. Olan's rabbinical career spanned over four decades, with notable appointments at Temple Emanuel in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas, where he served from 1948 until his retirement in 1970.
As a liberal social activist and author, Olan was a vocal advocate for various causes, including poverty, war, civil rights, and civil liberties. His progressive views resonated with the community through his popular radio program on WFAA, earning him recognition as a leading liberal voice in Dallas. In addition to his rabbinical duties, Olan held a visiting professorship at Southern Methodist University and published numerous works on Judaism, process theology, and contemporary social issues, cementing his legacy as a respected figure in his field.