Episode 37: Modern Psalms in Ancient Rhythm (2)     

As the Biblical psalms often elaborate scripture stories, I want to do that, too. Tonight’s reading will feature Abraham, with a couple of short episodes about Jacob, as well – again I’ll read a total of 7 psalms. Distinctive about the scripture narratives in my interpretations will be the use of the Judaeo-Christo-Islamic legacy as my frame of reference. The story of Abraham’s defiance is shared by Hebrew and Islamic writers; the story of his martyrdom by fire (called to a halt by God’s mercy) is Qur’anic but also identical with a Jewish midrash.