Aggadah
Talmudic narrative portions
Aggadah is the nonlegal portion of rabbinic literature—the stories, legends, parables, and ethical teachings found in the Talmud and Midrash, as distinct from halakah (Jewish law).
These narratives interpret biblical texts, explore theological questions, and transmit moral wisdom through storytelling rather than legal reasoning: The Aggadah about Moses and the burning bush expands on the biblical account.
Also spelled Haggadah when referring to this body of literature. (Lowercase aggadah is the same word in less formal contexts.)
Rabbinic law compilation
- MidrashRabbinic biblical commentary tradition
- MishnahCodified Jewish oral law
- TorahJudaism's core scripture
- commentariesExplanatory notes on texts
homiletics · exegesis · hermeneutics · yeshiva · rabbinical
Didactic allegorical tales
- legendsTraditional stories or icons
- talesSpoken or written narratives
- fablesDidactic animal stories
- folktalesTraditional oral narratives
narratives · anecdotes · allegories · moral tales · hagiography
Jewish esoteric tradition
- mysticismPursuit of divine union
- HasidismDevout mystical branch of Judaism
- soulInnermost animating essence
- holinessSacred spiritual purity
divine · revelation · prophecy · redemption · messianic · afterlife · angels · demons
Moral goodness or merit
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- justiceFair treatment under law
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- charityVoluntary aid for others
repentance · moral instruction · piety · humility · kindness · reward · punishment · free will
Jews of European descent
- SephardiJew of Iberian descent
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- oral traditionCulture passed by speech
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
ancestral · transmission · elders · diaspora · liturgy · communal memory
Talmud
Rabbinic law compilation
- MidrashRabbinic biblical commentary tradition
- MishnahCodified Jewish oral law
- TorahJudaism's core scripture
commentaries · homiletics · exegesis · hermeneutics · yeshiva · rabbinical
parables
Didactic allegorical tales
folktales · narratives · anecdotes · allegories · moral tales · hagiography
Kabbalah
Jewish esoteric tradition
- mysticismPursuit of divine union
- HasidismDevout mystical branch of Judaism
- soulInnermost animating essence
holiness · divine · revelation · prophecy · redemption · messianic · afterlife · angels · demons · miracles
virtue
Moral goodness or merit
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- justiceFair treatment under law
- compassionConcern for others' distress
charity · repentance · moral instruction · piety · humility · kindness · reward · punishment · free will
Ashkenazi
Jews of European descent
- SephardiJew of Iberian descent
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- oral traditionCulture passed by speech
customs · ancestral · transmission · elders · diaspora · liturgy · communal memory
- JudaismShabbat, kosher, Passover, Torah, Hanukkah
- Jewish Loregolem, golems, Lilith, Leviathan, Kabbalah
- Jewish ThoughtKabbalah, Jewish ethics, Jewish mysticism, Torah study, Jewish tradition
- Judaicamenorah, Torah scroll, Talmud, Torah study, mezuzah
- Rabbinic LiteratureMishnah, Talmud, Midrash, Geonim, seder
- TalmudMishnah, daf, Seder, sugya, folio
AggadahHalakha
Formal Jewish legal system
Halacha · Jewish law · din · Mishnah · legal codes
Aggadahcase law
Judge-made legal doctrine
jurisprudence · legal precedent · codification · binding precedent