An early medieval compilation of rabbinic midrash on the Torah extant in various forms arranged according to the triennial lectionary cycle. This compilation comprises three different collections of Torah haggadot (tales) of which two exist; the only knowledge of the third is through citations. These midrashim have been named after R. Tanchuma bar Abba (a Palestinian amora, ca. 350–371 ce, and one of the foremost haggadists of his time), although there is no evidence of his writing or editing them. The tales received his name simply because they consist partly of homilies attributed to him (i.e., they carry the introductory formula “thus began R. Tanchuma” or “thus preached R. Tanchuma”) and partly of homilies by haggadic teachers who followed the style of R. Tanchuma. The Yelammedenu is a group of midrashim that begin with halakhic formulas and end with homiletic formulas. Because of these standard opening formulas, the midrashim in this collection are said to be of the Tanchuma-Yelammedenu type, one found as well in other midrashic compilations and manuscripts including Deuteronomy Rabbah and parts of Exodus Rabbah, Numbers Rabbah, Pesiqta Rabbati, and yet others. Subsequently numerous Tanchuma and Tanchuma-like fragments have been published from manscript. The various Midrash Tanchuma texts and fragments may all stem back to a common type, but attempts to reconstruct any particular original text have failed.