noun
- Plural of aggadah; narrative and interpretive material in Jewish tradition, including legends, parables, and ethical teachings found in the Talmud and Midrash.
Usage: Also spelled aggadas, aggadot, or haggadahs; Religious/scholarly term; Contrasts with halakah (Jewish law)
Examples
- The aggadahs in the Talmud contain many famous parables about wisdom and morality.
- Scholars study aggadahs to understand Jewish interpretations of biblical stories.
- The Passover Haggadah includes aggadahs that explain the significance of the Exodus.
- Many aggadahs feature rabbis debating ethical questions and their resolutions.
- The collection of aggadahs reflects centuries of Jewish oral tradition and commentary.