Editing Midrash (section)

== Midrashei Halacha (Halachic Midrashim) ==
Midrashei Halacha find written Torah sources for halachot (laws) that were transmitted as part of the Oral Torah. These midrashim generally predate the Mishna. The Midrash connects a verse with a halacha, thereby providing evidence for the correctness of the halacha; understanding the verse in a certain way provides support for the halacha, and sometimes serves as its primary source. Midrash is also used to create new halachot, either as a direct inference from the verse or according to complex interpretative rules. The main compilations of Midrashei Halacha that we possess are the Mechilta on Shemot (Exodus), the Sifra on Vayikra (Leviticus), and the Sifri on Bamidbar (Numbers) and Devarim (Deuteronomy). Many of the Midrashei Halacha are quoted in the Talmud.

The Midrashei Halacha that we have are roughly divided into two groups: from the school of Rabbi Akiva (Devei Rabbi Akiva) and from the school of Rabbi Yishmael (Devei Rabbi Yishmael), with each school having its characteristics in terms of midrashic methods, terminology, and the names of the sages cited.

To derive conclusions from verses, various interpretative techniques are used. In Rabbi Yishmael's school, techniques called midot shehaTorah nidreshet bahen are used. There are lists of these midot, but these lists don't encompass all the midot that are used. In Rabbi Akiva's school, learning is done through local interpretations, without comparative tools, meaning without "midot."