IF NOT HIGHER | Summary | Translation In Nepali | Word Meanings | I.S.Pertez

Summary, Translation in Nepali and Word meanings of the short story "If Not Higher". "If Not Higher" was written by Isaac Leib Peretz. Isaac Leib Peretz (May 18, 1852 – April 3, 1915) was a Polish-born author and poet who is counted among the three great classical writers in the Yiddish language. In the short story "If Not Higher", Pertez has emphasised good deeds on the earth than the heaven and also he tries to give a message us that doing good deeds on earth may be a more exalted activity than doing God's will in heaven. It is needless to go heaven if we can do good on this earth.

In this story, every Friday early morning, there are performed religious services at the time of Penitential Prayers. Every day the Rabbi of the Nemirov vanishes when all the people gather for the prayer. Most people believe that Rabbi goes to the heaven. One day Litvak, a Lithuanian Jews wants to follow him to know where he goes at that time. To solve the mystery, Litvak secretly goes to his room and hides under the bed. Early mornings when others are praying, the Rabbi disguises himself as a peasant and leaves the house. Litvak follows him. The Rabbi reaches the forest near the town and cuts a bundle of sticks. He goes into a hut where lives a Jewish woman. He forces her to buy the wood on credit and starts kindling the fire. After putting the wood into oven he recites the 1st portion of the Penitential prayers. As the wood starts burning he recites the 2nd portion and when the fire sets, he recites the third portion. Litvak sees all his activities and becomes a disciple of Rabbi. He realizes that he is happy and satisfied even in this world. He is not worried about the heaven and he knows the real meaning of virtue of heaven.

Writer - Issac Leib Pertez, Poland (1852-1915)

Summary Of 'If Not Higher':

Jews have holiday on Friday. On this day people recite Penitential Prayers in their gatherings. But Rabbi disappears at that time. They believe that he goes to heaven temporarily at that time. But the Rabbi of Nemirov used to go somewhere. Litvak, wanted to find out where this Rabbi used to go at that time.The Litvaks are concerned with laws and reason, but not holly books. They used reason and say that even Moses, did not go to heaven in their life time but remained hanging two and a half feet below.

Once Thursday night Litvak hid into the Rabbi's room secretly under his bed. He used the night reciting (गुनगुनाउदै मन्त्र उच्चारण गर्नु) the volume of Talmud, the collection of religious debates. In the early morning, the Rabbi disguised himself with the peasant's clothes and went to the forest out of the town. The Litvak, secretly followed him. The Rubbi cut a tree and carried the bundle of fire wood on his back to the town. The Rabbi entered a small hut. There was a sick Jewish woman inside the hut. She did not have money to buy the fire wood. But the disguised Rabbi gave the wood on credit. He lit the fire for the woman and recited the second and third portions of the Penitential Prayers. The Litvak saw all these activities of the Rabbi, got influenced by his deeds and became his disciple (भक्त).

Also Read:

1. Question and answers Of "If Not Higher"

2. Four Levels of "If Not Higher"

At last the Litvak accepts that though he could not reach the heaven or higher place he reached the real place of god or virtue. He is satisfied with his deeds there. He is not worry about heaven because he got a place higher than the heaven.

(Translation Of 'If Not Higher' In Nepali language is given below in comment section.)

Word Meanings in Nepali of 'If Not Higher'
'If Not Higher' Nepali Word Meanings
Nepali Meanings 'If Not Higher'

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Word Meanings & Translation In Nepali & Summary Of "IF NOT HIGHER"