The First Shlemiel Summary

Shlemiel lives with his wife and baby near Chelm. Shlemiel is habitually unable to provide for his small family. Therefore, Mrs. Shlemiel sells vegetables in the market to try and make ends meet. Mrs. Shlemiel has made a pot of sweet jam for Hanukkah. Knowing that Shlemiel is lazy and has a sweet tooth, Mrs. Shlemiel worries that he will eat the entire pot of jam, while she is out of the house. She decides to tell Shlemiel a lie. Before leaving for the market, she tells Shlemiel he must do three things. First, he must take care of the baby; second, he must not let the rooster get out of the house; third, she tells him that the pot of jam, high on the shelf, is a pot of poison that he must not eat.

After Mrs. Shlemiel...