Agabbai (Hebrew:גבאי), sometimes spelledgabay, also known asshamash (שמש, sometimes transcribedshamas) orwarden (UK, similar tochurchwarden), is abeadle orsexton, a person who assists in the running ofsynagogueservices in some way. The role may be undertaken on a voluntary or paid basis. Ashamash (literally 'servant') orgabbai can also mean an assistant to arabbi (particularly the secretary or personal assistant to aHasidic rebbe).
Inma'amad, the Council of Elders (or "the board of directors") of the communities of Sephardi Jews, the position ofgabbai was that of thetreasurer.
The wordgabbai is Hebrew and, in Talmudic times, meant "collector of taxes or charity" or "treasurer".[1]
The termshamash is sometimes used for thegabbai, the caretaker or "man of all work" in a synagogue.
While the specific set of duties vary from synagogue to synagogue, a gabbai's responsibilities will typically include ensuring that the religious services run smoothly.[2]
Thegabbai may be responsible for callingcongregants up to the Torah.[3] In some synagogues, thegabbai stands next to the Torah reader, holding a version of the text withvowels andtrope markings (which are not present in the actualTorah scroll), following along in order to correct the reader if the reader makes an error. In other synagogues, these responsibilities are instead that of asgan (סגן).
A gabbai might manage some of the financial affairs of the institution, such as collection ofcontributions andkeeping financial records.[4] The administrator of charitable funds might be called thegabbai tzedakah.[5]
A gabbai's responsibilities might also include maintaining aJewish cemetery.
In some parts of the world, thegabbaim wear special clothing. InAnglo-Jewry, for example,gabbaim in some synagogue movements have traditionally worntop hats, and where there is ashamash, he may wearcanonicals.
An example from literature is "Moshe the Beadle", a character inNight byElie Wiesel.