Schnorrer
The story is told of a schnorrer [a Yiddish term for a beggar or sponger - Ed.] in a little shtetl [a Yiddish term for a small town - Ed.]. The townspeople asked only one small favor of him in return for their tzedakah [a Yiddish term for charity - Ed.] – that the schnorrer should blow the horn when the Messiah comes. But the schnorrer, who was reluctant to take upon himself even the slightest obligation, declined. “You need sound the horn only once,” pleaded the people, "only when Messiah shall appear." The schnorrer replied, "It would be just my luck that he would come tomorrow!"
Are we schnorrers, willing to take good gifts from the Messiah, but only if they don't cost us anything in return?Â
~ Larry Brandt
