If Not Higher

-I.L. Peretz

Four Levels of “If Not Higher”

Literal Comprehension:
"If Not Higher" is a story written by I.L. Peretz. In this story, the writer tries to tell us that
doing good deeds on the earth may be a more exalted activity than doing God's will in heaven.
Early every Friday morning, the Rabbi of Nemirov would vanish at the time of
penitential prayers. Nobody saw him where he would go. So the other people assembled for
prayer said that he would go to heaven at the time. But, a Litvak came and laughed. He didn’t
believe on such baseless matter. So, one night after the evening prayers, the Litvak slid the
Rabbi’s bed and waited. He remained there the whole night. At dawn the Rabbi woke up and
groaned for a whole hour to pray the God for the freedom of disease, pain and poverty of the
people of Israel. After that, the Litvak saw the Rabbi going to the kitchen in farmer’s clothes.
The Rabbi took an axe and a rope. Then he went out to the jungle. On the way, he stopped at
every house. He actually wanted to know the problem of people. At last, he reached the jungle;
he cut down a dead tree, made firewood, tied with the rope and took the bundle to the house of a
sick poor old widow Jew woman who needed the firewood. He sold her the firewood on credit
for six cents. The woman was so weak that she could not make even the fire. So, the Rabbi made
fire for her. When he put the firewood in the oven, he recited the first portion of the penitential
prayers when the wood burnt brightly, he recited the second portion of the prayers and when the
fire was set, the Rabbi recited the third portion and shut the stove.
The Litvak was observing his all activities. So, he became the true disciple of the Rabbi.
After that when other disciples said that the Rabbi would go to heaven at the time of penitential
prayers, the Litvak didn’t laugh. He only said quietly, ‘If Not Higher’.
Interpretation:
This is a moral story. It tells us about the path to go to heaven. The true spirit of religion
is to help others. It isn’t only limited to going to Temples and Churches and worship or pray
Gods and Goddesses. One can please God by helping the helpless ones. In the story, the Rabbi
of Nemirov vanishes at the time of penitential prayers early every Friday morning. He actually
doesn’t climb towards heaven but involves himself in the social service. The Litvak disbelieves
the Rabbi in the beginning but at last he becomes his disciple knowing that work is worship and
social service is the true way towards heaven.
Critical Thinking:
This moral story is very much interesting and convincing. It is true that the real way to
heaven is the work and the social service. The Rabbi gives more importance to the selfless social
service than to the prayers. As the Litvak is moved by the activities of the Rabbi, I am also
impressed by the Rabbi’s true worship. Still some questions arise in my mind. How can the

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Litvak hide into the room of the Rabbi and wake up the whole night without being noticed? How
can he follow the Rabbi everywhere without being seen by him?
Assimilation:
Before reading the story, I didn’t believe (like the Litvak) that the Rabbi would go to
heaven. But after reading the story, I have realized that selfless service and the work are true
worship and the path towards heaven. Now I believe that the Rabbi climbs towards heaven, ‘If
Not Higher’.

Summarize the plot of "IF NOT HIGHER" in one sentence.

The Rabbi of Nemirov, who was not found anywhere on every Friday mornings, was
disbelieved by a proud and impractical Litvak who tested the Rabbi and finally became his
disciple realizing that the social service was the only way towards heaven.

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