If Not Higher summary, analysis, four level application and question answer
About the Author I. L. Perez
I.
L. Perez (1852-1915) was born in Poland. He is one of the influential Yiddish
writers. He was eager for secular knowledge from an early age though he was
raised in Orthodoxy. He learned many languages like Polish, Russian, German,
and French. So, he was one of the outstanding figures in terms of the
linguistic and literary field.
Summary of If Not Higher
"If
Not Higher" is a moral story. It tells us about the true way to go to
heaven. Moreover, it focuses on the social service where work is taken as
worship. Doing good deeds on earth is much more noble activity than doing God's
will in heaven. God loves him/her who loves others.
The
main character of the story is Rabbi. Every Friday morning, Rabbi disappears at
the time of penitential prayers. People from the Jewish community believe that
Rabbi often goes to heaven on Friday. However, one day, Litvak, a critical
thinker, comes to Nemirov, the Jewish community, and tells people that he never
believes in Rabbi's going to heaven. He wants to examine where he goes every
Friday morning. Then, he comes to the room of Rabbi on Thursday evening without
telling him. He remains awake the whole night. He looks at every activity 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 a farmer. He takes rope and axe. He goes to the
forest. He cuts down firewood and comes back beside a broken hut. He helps a
poor old sick woman by making fire himself in the hut. During the fire, he
recites three courses of 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 tracks Rabbi and comes to know Rabbi's actual worshipping which is not
to God but to the human beings with the things they needed. This story
represents the true worship of God by serving the poor creatures. God lives in
the human heart. In the story, Rabbi's service has been respected by the
skeptic Litvak and finally becomes his disciple looking at social service and
humanity.
Application of Four Levels of If Not Higher
Literal Comprehension of If Not Higher
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 Rabbi can't go to
heaven. Rather he informs them that he will find out the reality of Rabbi on
what he does and goes through every Friday morning.
For
that, Litvak goes to Rabbi's room on Thursday 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 of Friday. Rabbi prays for an hour for the
peace and progress of all people. After that, he takes rope and axe and goes to
the forest. Litvak observes every activity done by Rabbi.
Then,
Rabbi cuts firewood and comes back on the way to the hut. He finds the old poor
sick woman in the hut. Rabbi stops there and helps her in making fire and other
problems. Observing Rabbi's true social service to 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.
Interpretation of the story of If Not Higher
If
Not Higher a moral story that 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 the sky but on this physical earth. God lives in the human
heart. He or she achieves 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 as worship and love
and help those people in need. Good deeds are always awarded.
Critical Thinking of If Not Higher
If
Not Higher is interesting in reading and has a moral 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 every Friday morning to the people? Is it possible for Litvak to enter and
see every activity of Rabbi without appearing in front of him? Where is heaven?
Assimilation of If Not Higher
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 attitudes and work. If one exploits and dominates another, he is
sure to go to hell and if one performs social service, humanity, and great
deeds, definitely he goes to heaven. Highly appreciated by Rabbi's social
service, I have decided to help helpless people, perform social service, adopt
truthfulness and love all people so that I will find out the way to go to
heaven.
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Give
an interpretation of "If Not Higher" may be doing good deeds on
earth, maybe a more exalted activity than doing God's will in heaven. Offer
another interpretation of "If Not Higher.
"Of
course, one interpretation of "If Not Higher" may be doing good deeds
on earth or maybe a more exalted activity than doing God's will in heaven. If
we involve in selfless social service and help the poor, helpless, and needy
people then, we feel great happiness and satisfaction when makes our way
towards heaven. No doubt, good deeds are always admired.
In
the story, Rabbi of Nemirov really practices his faith. He shows himself as an
example and serves a helpless sick and old woman. Even the skeptics like Litvak
are greatly impressed by Rabbi. Litvak sees everything done by Rabbi and comes
to know that heaven is here on earth with one's service to poor, helpless, and
needy people.
Therefore,
this story reflects the worshipping of God is to help poor and helpless people
in their problems. God remains in people's hearts who loves, performs social
service, follows the true path, and adopts humanity. If so, one lives in heaven
on this earth as Rabbi does.
Explain
whether Litvak is a critical thinker. In your view, does he carry his
skepticism too far? Why or why not? Note that at the end Litvak is converted
into a staunch supporter of the Rabbi, but that he has his combative nature
intact as he must still see things a bit differently from the rest.
A
critical thinker is a person who does not believe things easily but rather
questions the truth of the accepted beliefs and tries to see things as
objectively as possible, Litvak is a good critical thinker. Yet he has not
carried out his skepticism too far. First, he does not believe that Rabbi is
any good at being absent during the time of prayers. Secondly, he disagrees
with other people that he goes to heaven on Friday morning.
Litvak
is skeptical to think about what Rabbi does in the absence. Then, he sets out
in the search of the truth. Finding the truth that Rabbi is really serving God
and serving human beings, he becomes satisfied and enlightened. He becomes the
best Rabbi's disciple. Truth, human discipline, and living are maintained by
this critical thinking through skepticism.
As
Litvak observes Rabbi secretly, he finds out about his social services. Rabbi
goes to the forest to bring firewood and returns. On the way, one poor old sick
woman is asking for help. It is Rabbi who performs his humanity and helps such
helpless woman, gets up early in the morning, and prays an hour for peace;
progress, and happiness of all people that touches the heart and mind of
Litvak. In the end, Litvak is converted into a staunch supporter of the Rabbi,
becomes his disciple, and does not make any fun of the situation if someone
asks him about Rabbi. But he says one thing with confidence i.e. Rabbi really
goes to heaven, if not higher.
Summarize the plot of "If Not Higher" in one sentence.
The absence of the Rabbi every Friday morning is observed by the critical thinker, Litvak, and finding out him helping a helpless old woman before he becomes his disciple realizes the fact that selflessness, social service, duty and responsibility, and humanity are the best ways to go to heaven.
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