aggadic

Aggadic, from the Hebrew aggadah, is an adjective used to designate the non-legal, narrative, and homiletic portions of Rabbinic literature. It contrasts with halakhah, the legal rulings and prescriptions that constitute the other major strand of rabbinic writing. Aggadic material appears throughout early and classical rabbinic sources, especially in the Talmud and in Midrashic collections, as well as in later compilations.

Forms and content of aggadic writing include parables, legends, ethical exhortations, theological and cosmological speculation, and extensive biblical exegesis. It seeks to illuminate Scripture, explain the meanings behind narratives, and convey moral or spiritual lessons. Important examples of aggadic literature include Genesis Rabbah and Leviticus Rabbah, various Midrash Rabbot on different biblical books, Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, and the homiletic portions of the Tanhuma midrashim.

Historically, the aggadic corpus crystallized in late antiquity and continued to develop through the medieval period. It has been a central component of Jewish exegesis, education, and liturgy, shaping theological conceptions, ethical ideals, and communal memory. Modern scholarship distinguishes aggadah from halakhah to analyze methods of interpretation, narrative technique, and the role of storytelling in transmitting tradition. The aggadic tradition remains influential in Jewish thought, culture, and religious practice, illustrating how narrative and myth interact with law and morality in Rabbinic Judaism.