If Not Higher

Literal comprehension

             Early Friday morning, at the penitential prayers, the Rabbi of Nemirov would vanish. He was not seen anywhere. Jews believed that he would go to heaven during this period but  Litvak doubted. So, he went into the Rabbi’s room and stayed under his bed to find out where the Rabbi goes and what he does during this period. In the early morning, he saw the Rabbi distinguished as a peasant. He had a rope and ax. He followed the Rabbi secretly to the jungle. There he cut a bundle of firewood and bought it into a hut where sick Jewish woman lived. He forced her to buy the wood on credit and helped her by making fire. During the fire, he recited three portions of the penitential prayers. So the Litvak was impressed by the Rabbi and became his disciple.

Interpretation                                                                       

The story has tried to show the true spirit of religion, service to the troubled soul is higher and better than worship and prayers. To please God, most people think of going to religious places and praying is enough for them. But the Rabbi goes to a jungle, brings firewood and helps the poor sick woman by making fire. For him, serving the helpless troubled soul is more important than prayer. It is his best and he gets pleasure from it.

Critical Thinking

               I think the Litvak is a critical thinker. He is a really practical person. In the beginning, he doesn’t believe the Jews when they say that the Rabbi might go to heaven at the penitential prayers. So he tries to know where the Rabbi goes. He follows him until he finds the truth. His skepticism continues until he is impressed by the Rabbi’s help to the helpless sick Jewish woman. At last, he finds out the Rabbi’s believes in service to the troubled soul rather than worship and prayers to Gods. That is why he became his disciple.

                 Here are some points with which I do not agree. Jews believe that the Rabbi goes to heaven at the time of penitential prayers. But it is possible for a man like the Rabbi to go to heaven when he is alive? Rabbi helps the sick Jewish woman by making fire while others are praying and worshiping can we find such an idealistic person the Rabbi of Nemirov in real life? I have found the role of the Rabbi praiseworthy because he has helped the sick woman by bringing firewood and making fire rather than passing his time in worship and prayers.

Assimilation



            This story has reminded me of the poem ‘Yatri’ written by Laxmi Prasad Devkota. In the poem, service to trouble the soul is shown better and higher than praying and offering money to God in the temple. Now, this story has strengthened my idea of service to helpless people more rather than passing time just in prayer in the temple.