Q&A: Aggadic Passages in the Talmud
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Aggadic Passages in the Talmud
Question
Happy and amusing Friday, Rabbi Michi!
How are you today?
When learning a tractate for the first time (meaning one I haven’t studied before), is it worth skipping the aggadic passages there?
For example, I’m learning Megillah, and honestly I tried to delve into the aggadic passages there, but they don’t teach me anything practical. Not the final letters, and not why people call the Kinneret “Kinneret.”
Or is it worth investing time in them, just not too much?
Answer
I usually skip them. I don’t see value in studying aggadic passages.