Q&A: Aggadic Interpretation.
Aggadic Interpretation.
Question
Hello Rabbi.
Sometimes I find in the Talmud a dispute about the interpretation of a certain verse, but one of the tanna’im interprets it for matters of Jewish law and another interprets it for matters of aggadah. And this seems a bit strange to me: isn’t interpreting verses meant only for halakhic purposes? And furthermore, if we have the ability to make a halakhic interpretation, doesn’t that override an aggadic interpretation? More generally, what does this say about the interpretive tools themselves? After all, the aggadic teachings make claims about reality, and the Sages have no authority in that area. Do the tools of interpretation support factual claims and not only halakhic criteria? And if so, then just as the aggadic teachings are not necessarily true, perhaps the halakhot are not either, since they draw from the same source.
Thank you very much.
Answer
What does authority have to do with it here? One can interpret verses even without having authority. Whoever accepts it will accept it, and whoever does not, will not.
You are right that in the writings of the Sages it seems that aggadic interpretation was taken seriously, and I, the humble one, am skeptical about that.
Bottom line, it is not clear to me what exactly you are asking. If you want to discuss it, bring an example and formulate a clear question about it.