If Not Higher

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

Summary

The moral tale "If Not Higher" teaches us the right path to heaven. It also emphasizes social service, where labor is treated as devotion. A more exalted occupation than carrying out God's purpose in heaven may be performing good deeds on earth. Whoever loves others is loved by God.

Rabbi is the story's primary character. Every Friday morning during penitential prayers, he vanishes. day daydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydaydayday But one day, Litvak, a skeptic, enters the Jewish community in Nemirov and declares that he never thinks that the Rabbi would enter heaven. Instead, he wants to search the area where he visits every Friday. Then, on Thursday evening, enters the Rabbi's room without first calling. He is awake the entire night. He observes every action taken by the Rabbi on Friday morning, such as his early rise and hour-long prayer for the welfare, peace, and progress of all ordinary people.

So the Rabbi dresses in peasant attire. He enters the wilderness with a rope and an axe. After gathering some firewood, he leaves and returns to a decrepit shack. He makes fire there to assist a sick old woman who is in need. He does three rounds of the penitential prayers while the fire is burning. Litvak is really impressed after seeing Rabbi engage in such acts. Litvak finally accepts Rabbi as his true teacher and believes that Rabbi actually ascends to paradise, if not beyond.

As Litvak follows Rabbi, he learns that Rabbi actually worships people rather than God, providing them with the necessities. This tale illustrates that assisting the weaker creatures is how one truly worships God. The human heart is where God dwells. In the narrative, Litvak, a skeptic, first admires Rabbi's dedication before becoming his disciple and emphasizing humanism and social service.

Application of Four Levels

• Literal Comprehension
  • Every Friday morning, the Rabbi of Nemirov vanishes, and the Jewish population believes that he ascends to heaven at that time. But one day, Litvak, a skeptic and thinker, shows out in front of the crowd and claims that Rabbi cannot enter heaven. Instead, he tells them that he will learn the truth about what Rabbi does and travels to his room on Thursday night, where Rabbi is not aware of his presence. He stays awake the entire night, watching the Rabbi's festivities start early on Friday. Rabbi offers an hour-long prayer for world peace and human advancement. He then walks to the wilderness with a rope and an axe. Litvak keeps an eye on everything the Rabbi does. Rabbi cuts firewood after which he returns along the way of the hut. In the hut, he finds an elderly, ailing woman. Rabbi drops by and assists her with starting a fire and other issues. Litvak admires Rabbi for his genuine humanitarian efforts and vows to follow him as closely as possible. Finally, Litvak may affirm with assurance that Rabbi actually enters paradise, if not a higher place.
• Interpretation
  • This is a moral tale that teaches us that the paths to heaven are via humanity, altruism, and community service. Rabbi, for instance, enters heaven even if it is not higher than the sky but rather on the actual earth. On the human heart, God dwells. Only if he or she chooses social duty, morality, and humanity does he or she fulfill God's desire. One of the paths to heaven is to assist the defenseless. If we put work before worship and love and assist those who are in need, we can reach true happiness. Acts of goodness are always rewarded. God aids those who assist those in need and those who are struggling. It is not possible to serve God by only reading scriptures and chants. Helping and standing by the poor and defenseless is the surest path to God. Serving the human race is serving God. The ability to visualize real problems and identify answers makes one a critical thinker.
• Critical Thinking
  • The moral of this story is intriguing to read and convey. It demonstrates the value of love, assistance, humanity, hardship, and social services as the finest routes for individuals to reach heaven. In reality, like Rabbi, helping the needy and destitute is serving God. These concepts in the novel deserve praise. Some of the story's concepts, though, are not as strong. Why doesn't the Rabbi inform the populace of his efforts every Friday morning? Is it possible for Litvak to enter and observe all of Rabbi's activity without directly confronting him? Heaven, where is it? Do people today still think that there are gods and heaven?
• Assimilation
  • I have been significantly inspired by this narrative. I now follow the Rabbi's example. I learn that, in terms of people's attitudes and labor, the earth is both hell and heaven. One who dominates and takes advantage of others will undoubtedly end up in hell, while someone who does good things, acts with humanity, and serves others will unquestionably end up in heaven. Highly appreciative of the rabbi's social work, adopt honesty, and love everyone so that I may learn the path to heaven.

Referance

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