Shamus, n. [Yiddish]: A shamus is a guy who takes care of handyman tasks around the temple, and makes sure everything is in working order. A shamus is at the bottom of the pecking order of synagogue functionaries, and there's a joke about that: A rabbi, to show his humility before God, cries out in the middle of a service, 'Oh, Lord, I am nobody!' The cantor, not to be bested, also cries out, 'Oh, Lord, I am nobody!' The shamus, deeply moved, follows suit and cries, 'Oh, Lord, I am nobody!' The rabbi turns to the cantor and says, 'Look who thinks he's nobody!' -- Arthur Naiman, 'Every Goy's Guide to Yiddish' |
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