Rabbi Sally Olins, D.D., one of the few female conservative rabbis in the United States, has released a new book called “Coffee House Rabbi: Spiritual and Religious Wisdom” that draws upon the thoughts and stories she has gathered for decades in her calling. Divided into four parts – Inspiration, Life Lessons, Religion, and Humor – the book features beautiful quotations and stories that are intended to inspire and uplift the readers.
For more than 30 years, Rabbi Sally, as she is known locally in Palm Springs, California, has been seeking and sharing wisdom from a wide variety of sources, including books, quotes from famous people, stories she was told by others, and thoughts and stories that were shared with her. Rabbi Sally has amassed a countless number of inspirational stories and wanted to share them in her new book.
“In my work and my life, my mission is to help people to find their inner peace,” said Rabbi Sally. “These days, the world seems full of sadness and death, and I wanted to offer something positive for my readers to hold on to during these painful days.”
Olins served as Rabbi at Temple B’nai Hayim in Sherman Oaks for twenty years. She relocated to the desert in 2006 to become the spiritual leader of the congregation at Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs, where her creative approach to religious services and commitment to community outreach brought a new energy and focus to the temple and its mission. In 2015 Rabbi Sally began holding informal ‘Coffee House’ gatherings at a local hotel, open to people of all faiths and all backgrounds and in which every voice is heard. She created Coffee House Rabbi, Inc., a non-profit corporation providing spiritual and educational services to the Palm Springs community through these semi-monthly group meetings and special events. During the pandemic, Rabbi Sally has continued these meetings through the use of spirited Zoom conferences.
All of the thoughts and stories in “Coffee House Rabbi” have one thing in common – a poignant message. Many of the stories are parables or metaphors, and many are drawn from important spiritual sources such as the Bible or from famous people ranging from the Dalai Lama to Oprah Winfrey.
“In my Rabbinic career, I have always tried to help people to see how they can become more spiritually fulfilled,” Rabbi Sally continued. “That is the reason I created this book. This is not a self-help book, it’s a spiritual book.”
Coffee House Rabbi” is available for $18 and may be purchased at rabbisally.com.
