If Not Higher

If Not Higher: I.L. Peretz, Poland (1852- 1915)

Summary:

"If Not Higher" is a moral story that tells us about the true way to go to heaven. In addition, it focuses on the social service where work is taken as worship. Doing good deeds on earth may be more exalted activity than doing God's will in heaven. God loves him/her who loves others.

The main character of the story is Rabbi. He disappears every Friday morning at the time of penitential prayers. People from the Jewish community believe that Rabbi usually goes to heaven on Friday. However, one day, Litvak, a critical thinker, comes at Nemirov, Jewish community and tells people that he never believes on Rabbi's going to heaven. Rather he wants to search where he goes every Friday morning. Then, comes to the room of Rabbi on Thursday evening without informing him. He remains awake whole night. He looks each and every activities of Rabbi on Friday morning, for example; his earlier getting up and praying for an hour for the progress, peace and happiness of all common people.

Rabbi, then, wears the clothes of peasant. He takes rope and axe and goes to the forest. He cuts down a firewood and comes back beside a broken hut. There he helps a poor old sick woman by making fire himself. During the fire, he recites three courses of the penitential prayers. Observing such activities of Rabbi, Litvak is greatly impressed. Finally, Litvak becomes a true disciple of Rabbi believing that Rabbi really goes to heaven, if not higher.

As Litvak follows Rabbi and comes to know Rabbi's real worshipping which is not God but to the human beings with the things they needed. This story represents true worship to God is by serving the poor creatures. God lives in human heart. In the story, Rabbi's service has been admired by the skeptic Litvak and finally becomes his disciple looking at social service and humanity.

Application of Four Levels

1. Literal Comprehension:

Rabbi of Nemirov disappears every Friday morning where Jewish community people believe that he goes to heaven at that time. But one day, Litvak, a thinker and skeptic, appears in front of people and tells them that it is impossible for Rabbi to go to heaven. Rather he informs them that he will find out the reality of Rabbi on what he does and goes to Rabbi's room on Thursday's evening where Rabbi is unknown to his arrival in his room. He awakens the whole night and observes Rabbi's activities from the early morning on Friday. Rabbi prays for an hour for peace and progress of all people. After that, he takes rope and axe and goes to forest. Litvak observes every activities done by Rabbi. Then, rabbi cuts firewood and comes back on the way of hut. He finds old poor sick woman in the hut. Rabbi stops there and helps her in making fire and other problems. Observing Rabbi's such true social service with humanity; Litvak appreciates him and decides to be the best disciple of Rabbi. At last, Litvak is confident to say that Rabbi really goes to heaven, if not higher.

2. Interpretation:

This is a moral story which teaches us that humanity, social service and truthfulness are the ways to go to heaven. For example; Rabbi goes to heaven if not higher than sky but on this physical earth. God lives on human heart. He or she achieves the God's will only if he/she adopts social service, morality and humanity. Helping helpless people is one of the ways for walking to heaven. True happiness can be achieved if we take work worship and love and help those people in need. Good deeds are always awarded. God helps those who help needy people and who are in problems. Only reading holy books and mantras is no way to service of God. The best way to reach the God is helping and supporting the poor and helpless people. Service to humanity is a service to God. Critical thinker is the one who visualizes actual problems and finds out solutions of any problem.

3. Critical Thinking:

This story is interesting in reading and moral in theme. It shows the importance of love, help, humanity, struggle and social services that are the best ways for people to go to heaven. In fact, like Rabbi, serving the poor and needy people is to serve God. These ideas in the story are admirable. However, some of the ideas in the story are less convincing. Why does not Rabbi tell his work of every Friday morning to the people? Is it possible for Litvak to enter and see every activities of Rabbi without appearing in front of him? Where is heaven? Do the modern people believe on existence of gods and heaven?

4. Assimilation:

After reading this story, I am greatly influenced. Now, I have adopted the path of Rabbi. I come to know that the earth consists of both hell and heaven in terms of people's attitude and work. If one exploits and dominates other, he is sure to go to hell and if one performs social service, humanity and great deeds, definitely he goes to heaven. Highly appreciated from Rabbi's social service, adopt truthfulness and love all people so that I will find out the way to go to heaven.

(Subedi, K.P. and Bhandari, M.B. (2014). Business English. Kathmandu: Highland Publication P. Ltd.)