Aggadah and Halakha: literature alongside law

The Jewish scripture compiled in the first six centuries CE is viewed as comprised of Halakha (binding legal norms) and Aggadah (legend and lore). The Halakha is viewed as the normative component of the text, while Agaddah consists of the narrative. This combination is an early example of the intricate relations between law and literature. It also serves as an interesting manifestation of the Literature Alongside Law paradigm. Alongside a continuous affirmation of the necessity of the normative structure—Halakha—the Agaddah, by employing narratives, repeatedly presents Halakha’s inherent failures, and offers a variety of ways of resisting and coping, as well as the ever-present quest for bringing about positive changes.