If Not Higher By I.L Peretz summary
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If Not Higher - I.L Peretz
Literal Comprehension
The story was written by I.L. Peretz of Poland. It is all about the good deeds of Rabbi which he does every Friday morning at the time of Penitential prayers.
Rabbi, an intellectual person who makes rule in church, vanishes every Friday morning instead of attending the penitential prayer. People believe that he might have gone in heaven so as to ask for salvation (forgiveness) of bad deeds done by them, But a Litvak, a critical person, does not believe these stuffs and begins to think that even Moses, their teacher, could not ascend to heaven, how can Rabbi go there? So, Litvak follows Rabbi in the evening and lies under Rabbi's bed, not sleeping for whole night. In the morning, Rabbi wakes up earlier and does what befits a Jew.
Then he changes his appearance, takes an axe and moves away, followed by Litvak. Rabbi reaches the wood behind the town, cuts down the tree and makes into stick. He takes the bundle towards the town and on the way, he stops beside a small broken down sack and knocks at the window. He asks if the person inside needs a firewood. Then an old woman says she cannot afford it. So, Rabbi says she could pay it when she can. As she is old, he helps her to lit the fire. By putting wood into oven, kindling the fire and after fire is set, he recites the firs, second and third portions of penitential prayers respectively. Seeing this, Litvak feels Rabbi really goes to heaven, but heaven is in the earth. So, when the people ask him about Rabbi going to heaven, he says - "if not higher".
Interpretation
The main theme of the story "if not higher" may be - 'service to mankind is the service to the god'. Here, Rabbi has shown devotion to the god by doing good to human being. Helping needy people is enough to satisfy the god.
Critical thinking
The story is overall good. However, I do not agree with few things. The common people say that Rabbi might have gone to heaven. Are they illiterate and immature to believe that heaven exists? Likewise, when Litvak follows Rabbi why could not Rabbi suspect someone is following him? When Litvak goes under Rabbi's bed, why does not Rabbi check whether there is something under his bed? Rabbi lives there alone. So, as Litvak is present there how could Rabbi not feel someone's presence even by the heartbeat?
Assimilation
I used to think that helping other people who could not help us in turn is useless. But after reading this story, I realized that there is abundant satisfaction if we help others without expecting anything.
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