Schlemiel

Schlemiel (; sometimes spelled shlemiel) is a Yiddish term meaning "inept/incompetent person" or "fool". It is a common archetype in Jewish humor, and so-called "''schlemiel'' jokes" depict the ''schlemiel'' falling into unfortunate situations.

Meaning

The inept ''schlemiel'' is often presented alongside the unlucky ''schlimazel''. A Yiddish saying explains that "a ''schlemiel'' is somebody who often spills his soup and a ''schlimazel'' is the person it lands on". The ''schlemiel'' is similar to the '' schmuck'' but, as stated in a 2010 essay in ''The Forward'', a ''schmuck'' can improve himself while "a schlemiel, a schlimazel and a schmendrik are irredeemably what they are".

The etymology of the term is unsure. Ernest Klein in his ''Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language'' suggests that the word comes from the Hebrew term , meaning "useless". Another theory is that the word is derived from the name Shelumiel, an Israelite chieftain.

Heyse and some other etymologists suggest that the name comes from the words "shlomi" + "el" in the meaning "God is my salvation", i.e., a Schlemiel hopes that God will save him.

The term was popularized by the name of Peter Schlemihl, the main character of a 19th century novella by Adelbert von Chamisso.

According to Harvard University literature professor Ruth Wisse, the schlemiel as a type emerges in the Yiddish literature of the period of Jewish emancipation.

In culture

*An archetype ''shlemiel'' entrepreneur is Menahem-Mendl of Sholem Aleichem.
* In a 1944 essay, Hannah Arendt argues that Charlie Chaplin's Tramp character is a ''schlemiel'' whose only comfort is "the kindness and humanity of casual acquaintances".
* Many of Woody Allen's films feature Allen portraying a ''schlemiel'' type, particularly in his relations with women.
* Larry David's character on the HBO series ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' serves as a modern ''schlemiel'', encountering "problems that affect contemporary middle- to upper-class American Jews".
* In the sitcom ''Seinfeld'', George Costanza "follows the pattern of the classic ''schlemiel''", with Jerry Seinfeld's character serving as his ''schlimazel''.
*The 1995 Israeli-European animated feature '' The Real Shlemiel'' centers on a village of ''schlemiels'', with its rabbi even taking it as a given name.
* Software engineer Joel Spolsky coined the term '' Schlemiel the Painter's algorithm'' in 2001, based on a Yiddish joke, to describe a certain type of inefficient software method.
* The titular character of the 2004 comedy film ''Napoleon Dynamite'' embodies the traits of the ''schlemiel'', according to researcher David Buchbinder.
* In the drama series ''The O.C.'' (2003–2007), Seth Cohen's personality "is self-deprecating and in line with that of past ''schlemiels''".
* In the 2009 film ''A Serious Man'' directed by the Coen brothers, the character of Larry Gopnik is depicted as a ''schlemiel''.
* In " Park Safety", a 2010 episode of the NBC sitcom '' Parks and Recreation'', Ron Swanson states that his clumsy coworker Jerry "is both the ''schlemiel'' and the ''schlimazel''".{{Cite news, url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/02/and-the-meek-shall-inherit-pawnee/385985/, title=The Downtrodden Jerry Gergich Is the True Hero of ''Parks and Recreation'', last=Garber, first=Megan, work=The Atlantic, access-date=2017-11-17
* In Thomas Pynchon's novel '' V.'', the protagonist Benny Profane is identified as a schlemiel numerous times.

See also

* List of English words of Yiddish origin

References

Yiddish words and phrases
German words and phrases
Luck
Slurs related to low intelligence
Archetypal fools