by Zvi Ron
Over the course of Jewish history, many midrashim have been collected in the Talmud and classical midrashic texts such as Mekhilta, Sifra, Sifri, Midrash Rabbah, Midrash Tanhuma, and others. They have become popularly known by being quoted by Rashi and other commentators. However, not all midrashim have the same status. R. Hai Gaon explains that midrashim that are found in the Talmud are considered to be superior to those found only in midrash collections.
He states that the midrashim included in the Talmud should be explained and clarified, while those not found in the Talmud can be rejected if they do not seem reasonable.
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Zvi Ron received semikha from the Israeli Rabbanut and his PhD in Jewish Theology from Spertus Univer- sity. He is an educator living in Neve Daniel, Israel, and is the author of Sefer Katan ve-Gadol about the big and small letters in Tanakh.
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