non-rationalistic, mystical streams of Judaism—thus, for example, Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz, the Shlah HaKodosh (-1630) holds that "none of these sometimes mind-boggling 'stories' are devoid of profound meaning; if anyone is devoid of understanding, it is the reader" (Shnei Luchos HaBris, introduction). See also the Maharal's approach. In the Talmud and Midrash The Aggadah is today recorded in the Midrash and the Talmud. In the Midrash, the aggadic and halakhic material are compiled as two distinct collections: The Aggadic Midrashim, generally, are explanatory aggadah, deriving the "sermonic implications" from the biblical text. The Halakhic Midrashim derive the laws from the text. Many of the Torah commentaries, as well as the Targumim, interpret the Torah text in the light of Aggadic statements, particularly those in the Midrash, and hence contain much material on Aggadah interpretation. Throughout the Talmud, aggadic and halakhic material are interwoven—legal material comprises around 90%. (Tractate Avoth, which has no gemara, deals exclusively with non-halakhic material, though it is not regarded as aggadic in that it focuses largely on character development.) The Talmudic Aggadah, generally, convey the "deeper teachings"—though in concealed mode, as discussed. The aggadic material in the Babylonian Talmud is also presented separately in Ein Yaakov, a compilation of the Aggadah together with commentaries. Well-known works interpreting the Aggadot in the Talmud include: Chiddushei Aggados (Novellae on the Aggadot) by Samuel Edels "the Maharsha" (1555-1631). Chiddushei Aggados (Novellae on the Aggadot) by Judah Loew "the Maharal" (as well as many other works by Loew, especially Be'er ha-Golah). Yehoyada and MeKabtziel (names based on 2 Samuel 23:20) by Yosef Hayyim "the Ben Ish Chai". Beur Aggados (Clarification of the Aggadot) and Perush al Kamma Aggadot (Commentary on several Aggadot) by the Vilna Gaon. Ein Yaakov (En Jacob) Agada of the Babylonian Talmud by Rabbi Jacob ibn Habib (Translated into English, 1916, by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Glick). Etz Yosef, Anaf Yosef and Yad Yosef - as well as others - by Zundel ben Joseph Ein Ayah four volume commentary on Ein Yaakov by Rav Kook (1865-1935) Development The Aggadah has been preserved in a series of different works, which, like all works of traditional literature, have come to their present form through previous collections and revisions. Their original forms existed long before they were reduced to writing. The first traces of the midrashic exegesis are found in the Bible itself; while in the time of the Soferim the development