Schnorrer

Schnorrer (שנאָרער; also spelled shnorrer) is a Yiddish term meaning "beggar" or "sponger".[1] The word Schnorrer originally occurred in the German language to describe a freeloader who frequently asks for little things, like cigarettes or little sums of money, without offering a return.

Schnorrer of Poland in Leipzig, Germany From: Die Gartenlaube (1875)

English language usage

The English language usage of the word denotes a sly chiseler who will get money out of his acquaintances any way he can, often through an air of entitlement. A schnorrer is distinguished from an ordinary beggar by dint of his boundless chutzpah. Like "moocher", "schnorrer" does not apply to direct begging or destitution, but rather a habit of getting things (food, tools) by politely or insistently borrowing them with no intention of return.

As backhanded compliment

While generally used in a pejorative or ironic sense, the term can also be used as a backhanded compliment to someone's perseverance, cleverness, or thrift. For instance, Azriel Hildesheimer, known for his travels around Europe to spread his rabbinical wisdom to the poor, and for his refusal to accept payment for his services, was sometimes referred to as the "international schnorrer" for his reliance on the local community to house and feed him wherever he went. Alternatively, Theodor Herzl described his early Eastern European immigrant supporters among the Ostjuden, as his "army of schnorrers".[2] Israel Zangwill later described a schnorrer as a beggar who would chide a donor for not giving enough. The Schnorrer Club of Morrisania was a German-American social club in the Bronx, New York.

Dowry raising

Schnorrers sometimes begged for the dowries of poor women (Hakhnasat Kallah); a practice which was allowed even when it disrupted the public study of the Torah.[3]

In film and literature

Israel Zangwill's 1894 novel The King of Schnorrers
Bernard Herrmann wrote an unsuccessful musical based on this novel.
At the end of Isaac Bashevis Singer's short story "Gimpel the Fool," Gimpel says another schnorrer is waiting to take his place.
Groucho Marx, in his movies, often assumed the role of a schnorrer. The word is used in the song "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" in the Marx Brothers' musical Animal Crackers: "Hooray for Captain Spaulding/The African explorer/'Did someone call me schnorrer?'/Hooray, hooray, hooray!"
Mordecai Richler's 1959 novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and its 1974 film adaptation
The comedian Jackie Mason often pokes fun at the stereotype of Jews as schnorrers.
The character of Father Phil Intintola on The Sopranos, as played by Paul Schulze, self-deprecatingly refers to himself as a schnorrer, especially in regard to his always showing up when Carmela is cooking.
In the Northern Exposure episode "Northern Hospitality," Dr. Joel Fleishman is perceived as a schnorrer because of his failure to reciprocate dinner invitations.
In The Simpsons episode "The Cartridge Family," Krusty the Clown shouts "come on, you schnorrers, do something!" at soccer players.
George Costanza from Seinfeld is a schnorrer who will get money any way he can, as long as it doesn't require putting too much effort into it.
Alan Harper from Two and a Half Men is a schnorrer who habitually takes money from his brother Charlie.
Lucky Luciano from Boardwalk Empire, in the second episode of its fifth season, calls another character, Tonino Sandrelli, a schnorrer. Although Luciano is of Italian background, he did it in the company of two Yiddish-speaking characters.
Jerry Seinfeld in season 11 episode 08 of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Martin Short asks him his favorite Jewish word and Jerry responds "I think it's 'schnorrer'."
Larry David in season 10 episode 04 of Curb Your Enthusiasm, asks Ted Danson if he will contribute to the fare for a private flight from Cabo San Lucas to Los Angeles, saying "I'm sure you don't want to be considered a ... schnorrer."

References

jewishencyclopedia.com – "Schnorrer". Retrieved 24 June 2009.
Paul Johnson, A History of the Jews, pp. 398–99: "Herzl found himself visited by shabby, excitable Jews from distant parts, to the dismay of his fashionable wife, who grew to detest the very word Zionism. Yet these were the men who became the foot soldiers, indeed the NCOs and officers, in the Zionist legion; Herzl called them his 'army of schnorrers'. The 'army' met publicly for the first time on 29 August 1897..."
jewishvirtuallibrary.org – Begging and Beggars

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[1] jewishencyclopedia.com – "Schnorrer". Retrieved 24 June 2009.

[2] Paul Johnson, A History of the Jews, pp. 398–99: "Herzl found himself visited by shabby, excitable Jews from distant parts, to the dismay of his fashionable wife, who grew to detest the very word Zionism. Yet these were the men who became the foot soldiers, indeed the NCOs and officers, in the Zionist legion; Herzl called them his 'army of schnorrers'. The 'army' met publicly for the first time on 29 August 1897..."

[3] jewishvirtuallibrary.org – Begging and Beggars