Psalm 131, one of the shortest of all of the psalms, also contains one of the most difficult to translate lines. In just three brief verses, the psalmist describes his (?) relationship to God. But what is the imagery employed and what might it have to do with breast-feeding and weaning? Come along for a fascinating discussion traversing the fields of biblical linguistics (in translation – no prior knowledge of Biblical Hebrew required), psychoanalysis, feminist theory and more!
Deborah Kahn-Harris is Principal of Leo Baeck College (LBC), which trains Reform and Liberal rabbis for the UK and Europe. She has semicha from LBC and holds a PhD in Bible from the University of Sheffield, specialising in feminist Bible criticism. She is married to Keith and they have two teenagers, a cat, and two budgies. In her spare time she plays the Celtic harp and reads far too much science fiction.