If Not higher

If Not higher

I.L. Peretz (Poland 1852-1915)

Heaven is at the service of humanity. One should help poor, sick and needy people who are in a great problem. Here in the story, the rabbi of Nemirov disappears at the time of penitential prayer every Friday morning. He actually doesn’t go to heaven rather involves himself in the service of humanity. We should involve in selfless human services to get heaven on earth.

b. Write the four levels of interacting with the text to “ If Not Higher”.

Literal Comprehension: Every early morning of Friday praying time Rabbi used to disappear. He wouldn’t be found either in house or in praying room. Some Jews calculated that he had gone to heaven at that time. Other thought that he had done much human service. Among them a Jew, Litvak wanted to know his reality. He entered into Rabbi’s room secretly and observed what he was doing. Next day, at the time of prayer (early morning) he disguised into simple farmer’s dress and went into the forest. He cut a bundle of wood and returned to village. After some times he entered into a hut of a poor Jew woman. He requested her to buy woods even on credit. God was there to pay the money if she couldn’t be able to pay. He did all parts of prayer, one after another making fire in different steps. Looking all these activities and Rabbis human service Litvak was influenced a lot from him. He planned to be his disciple sooner.

Interpretation: Since this chapter is a Jewish legend with a good moral lesson about how to practice to religions. How we can get the favor of god is discussed here. The pious and good activities of Rabbi are related to human service, peace and livelihood. It tries to say that only going to temples or religious places is not getting God’s favor. 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 road reach the God is helping the poor and helpless people. Service to humanity is a service to God. Critical thinker is one who thinks actual problem and finds out solutions of any problem.

Critical Thinking: Thematically this religious story teaches a moral lesson to so-called religious people. It teaches we can get real favor of God. This religious description can’t be believed by modern readers (people) who don’t believe on the existence of God. We hardly meet Rabbi like religious person in modern money minded world. Rabbi’s service to sick woman is a model work of humanity. But, a question is: How can a person disappear from the praying place? Still the groaning of Rabbi contains human suffering and pains.

Assimilation:  It is very useful story to any religious people. It has made aware to those people who only become crazy to stone Gods with stony heart and inhuman behaviors. Seeing many people making line in holy temples with rough practical manners, I realized that they are not getting real favors of god. True service of god can be done helping needy and helpless people not only going to temples and church like the message of Devkota’s poem ‘Yatri’.

c. “Doing good deeds on earth may be a more exalted activity than doing God’s will in heaven.” Explain this statement on the basis of the story” If Not Higher”.

Or

“Service to humanity is the best way to get the favor of God”. Explain this statement on the basis of the story “If Not Higher”.

This religious story “If Not Higher “might be trying to point out the real essence of religion. Worship is for the betterment and help of somebody. Generally, people want to be religious only going to holy places but they don’t have humanity and service to helpless people. Only visiting to holy places, citing religious creeds and hymens can’t be the true path to get the favor of God. The true religion is this religion when people apply the religious message of Holy books into practical life. The more we serve the humanity and needy people the more pleasure we get.

In this story the Rabbi does human service helping a poor, helpless and sick Jewish woman. He is citing prayer (Holy mantras) with the service to helpless woman without going to synagogue. The service for needy and helpless people is far more worthwhile than any prayer. Likewise the late poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota says we can’t find god in temple and mosque. We have tounderstand the agonies of helpless people and put the ointment into their aching wounds. This human service is the best path to have full favor of God and source of complete pleasure.