aggadah
Talmudic narrative passage
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. (Capitalized Aggadah is the same word in more formal contexts.)
Rabbinic law compilation
- MidrashRabbinic biblical commentary tradition
- halakhahJewish religious legal ruling
- MishnahCodified Jewish oral law
- TorahJudaism's core scripture
Tanakh · homiletics · exegesis · hermeneutics · sugya
Instructive allegorical narrative
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- fableMoral tale with animals
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
anecdote · storytelling · saga · lore · chronicle · folklore · moral tale · exemplum
Trust without proof
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- divineOf or from gods
eschatology · messianic · afterlife · theodicy · providence · covenant · repentance · resurrection
Moral goodness or merit
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- justiceFair treatment under law
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- charityVoluntary aid for others
moral instruction · piety · humility · kindness · reward · punishment · free will
Talmud
Rabbinic law compilation
- MidrashRabbinic biblical commentary tradition
- halakhahJewish religious legal ruling
- MishnahCodified Jewish oral law
Torah · Tanakh · homiletics · exegesis · hermeneutics · sugya
parable
Instructive allegorical narrative
allegory · anecdote · storytelling · saga · lore · chronicle · folklore · moral tale · exemplum · didactic
faith
Trust without proof
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
divine · eschatology · messianic · afterlife · theodicy · providence · covenant · repentance · resurrection · angels
virtue
Moral goodness or merit
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- justiceFair treatment under law
- compassionConcern for others' distress
charity · moral instruction · piety · humility · kindness · reward · punishment · free will
- JudaismShabbat, kosher, Passover, Torah, Hanukkah
- Jewish studiesTorah study, Jewish learning, yeshiva, Jewish history, rabbinical school
- Scripture talesDavid and Goliath, Adam and Eve, creation story, Garden of Eden, gospel stories
- Judaicamenorah, Torah scroll, Talmud, Torah study, mezuzah
- Rabbinic LiteratureMishnah, Talmud, Midrash, Geonim, seder
- TalmudMishnah, daf, Seder, sugya, folio
aggadahlegal reasoning
Logic applied to cases
strict interpretation · literal meaning · codification · casuistry