Ein Yaakov
Ein Yaakov is a 16th-century compilation of all the Aggadic material in the Talmud together with commentaries. Its introduction contains an account of the history of Talmudic censorship and the term Gemara. It was compiled by Jacob ibn Habib and by his son Levi ibn Habib.
Although ibn Habib intended his work for a wide audience, including the rabbinic elite, Ein Yaakov was "especially treasured by laborers and others" who lacked the schooling to learn the more difficult parts of the Talmud. Some synagogues hold daily Ein Yaakov classes.
Commentaries
Dozens of commentaries on the Ein Yaakov have been composed, and some editions contain 20 or more. These are some of the most notable commentaries:HaKotev : Ibn Habib's own commentary. In the edition princeps his comments are marked by א"ה, "so says the author," and later editions call it HaKotev, "the author".Hiddushei Aggadot : A work by Samuel Eidels which is often treated as a commentary to the Talmud, but Eidels writes in the introduction that his aim is "to compose a commentary to all the tales in the Ein Yaakov".Beit Yehuda : Leon da Modena's commentary, which appeared in all editions between 1684 and 1916. Later editions call it HaBoneh. This is one of his most mature works, according to Ellis Rivkin. Da Modena also compiled an index to the Ein Yaakov, titled Beit Lehem Yehuda.Meor Einayim : Josiah Pinto's commentary.- : Commentary of, preserved MS Columbia X 893 L 973 and BL Add. MS 27020.Asaf HaMazkir : A bibliographic work by Zechariah ben Ephraim Porto of Urbino. Included in back of Amsterdam, 1724.Kotnot Or : Commentary of.Iyyun Yaakov : Jacob Reischer's.Yashresh Yaakov : Hayyim Abulafia's.Shevut Yaakov : An expanded commentary by Hayyim Abulafia.
- : Moshe Chaim Luzzatto supposedly composed a commentary, now lost.Petah Einayim : Chaim Yosef David Azulai's.Ein Avraham : Abraham ben Aryeh Loeb Schick's.Yad Yosef, Etz Yosef, Anaf Yosef : Enoch Zundel ben Joseph's three commentaries.Or haChayyim : Commentary by Mordecai Jaffe of Plungė to the Yerushalmi sections, compiled largely from the Korban Ha-Edah and the Pnei Moshe. First printed in Vilna, 1883.Ein Ayyah : A lengthy commentary by Abraham Isaac Kook, published in 4 volumes.