Editing Midrash (section)

== Books of Aggada ==
In Judaism, there are many books of aggada that include moral content, narrative, and other non-halachic content. There are also books that are collections of aggadot from the Babylonian Talmud and Jerusalem Talmud. Chazal attribute great importance to aggada, and throughout Jewish history, hundreds of books have been composed to explain and elucidate Chazal's aggadot, some in a simple manner and some in a deeper manner. An example of this is the Maharsha's work "Chiddushei Aggadot," which is a comprehensive composition on all Talmudic tractates, providing simple explanations and mostly also profound ones for the aggadot in the Babylonian Talmud.

Among Chazal's books of aggada are the well-known midrashic works, as well as other well-known compositions whose content is "aggadic":

Midrash Rabbah - (in Rashi's commentary on Parashat Vayigash, it is called "Aggadat Eretz Yisrael") – Midrash on the Torah and on the five megillot. The Rishonim attributed the midrash to Rabbi Hoshaya Rabbah, and some attributed it to the Amora Rabbah bar Nachmani. Today, researchers believe that the midrashic collections were composed at different times, with the differences between them possibly reaching hundreds of years. The midrashim are arranged according to parshiyot (on the Torah) and according to parshiyot and simanim (on the Torah and on the five megillot).

Midrash Tanchuma - Also an Eretz Israel aggadic midrash on the Torah, composed by Rabbi Tanchuma, an Amora in the fifth generation of Amoraim who lived in Eretz Israel. It is also divided according to the Torah portions. In this midrash, discussions usually begin with halachic questions, and then move on to aggadic content. There is a midrash called "Yelamdeinu Rabbeinu," which is based on Midrash Tanchuma and usually begins with these words.

Pirkei / Braita d'Rabbi Eliezer - A composition attributed to the Tanna Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus (hence its name), dealing with his studies on the work of creation, the stories in the Torah, the deeds of the Patriarchs, and the Exodus from Egypt. The unique style of this midrash is that it does not engage in "interpreting" verses, but in describing them and expanding their content.

Midrash Shocher Tov - An aggadic midrash on Tehillim (Psalms). The midrash opens with the verse "Shocher tov yevakesh ratzon" (Proverbs 11:27), hence its name. The identity of its author is unknown.

Yalkut Shimoni - A collection of midrashim on the books of Tanach, compiled at the beginning of the 14th century in Germany. Opinions are divided regarding the identity of its author, and it is generally believed to have been composed by Rabbi Shimon Ashkenazi ("Head of the Preachers") from Frankfurt. The book excels in its vast repository of about 50 books, linguistic precision, and citation of sources.

Midrash HaGadol - A collection of midrashim from Yemenite Jewry, compiled by Rabbi David bar Amram from the city of Aden in Yemen.

Seder Olam - A chronological book on the Torah, attributed to the Tanna Rabbi Yosei ben Chalafta.

Pesikta d'Rav Kahana - A collection of midrashim on the haftarot read on holidays and special Shabbatot throughout the year.

Ein Yaakov - A collection of aggadic material from the Babylonian Talmud, together with the main commentators - Rashi and Tosafot. It was compiled at the end of the 15th century by Rabbi Yaakov ben Shlomo Habib from the city of Zamora in Spain. Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook based his book on aggadot, Ein Ayah, on this book.

In addition to the aggadic compositions mentioned above, there are compositions focusing on ethical matters, such as: Tractate Avot, Avot d'Rabbi Natan, Tractate Derech Eretz (Derech Eretz Rabbah and Derech Eretz Zuta), Tanna d'Bei Eliyahu.

Alongside the original compositions, there are many modern collections of aggada compiled in recent times with the aim of collecting Chazal's aggadot according to a certain order (by topics, alphabetical order, and so on).

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