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A gabbai (), sometimes spelled gabay, also known as shamash (שמש, sometimes transcribed shamas) or warden (British English, similar to churchwarden), is a beadle or sexton, a person who assists in the running of synagogue Jewish prayer in some way. The role may be undertaken on a voluntary or paid basis. A shamash (literally 'servant') or gabbai can also mean an assistant to a rabbi (particularly the secretary or personal assistant to a rebbe).
In ma'amad, the Council of Elders (or "the board of directors") of the communities of Sephardi Jews, the position of gabbai was that of the treasurer.
The term shamash is sometimes used for the gabbai, the caretaker or "man of all work" in a synagogue.
The gabbai may be responsible for calling congregants up to the Torah.Wex, Michael. " Politics And The Gabbai". The New York Jewish Week. 21 September 2007. p. 3. In some synagogues, the gabbai stands next to the Torah reader, holding a version of the text with nikkud and trope markings (which are not present in the actual Torah scroll), following along in order to correct the reader if the reader makes an error. In other synagogues, these responsibilities are instead that of a sgan (סגן).
A gabbai might manage some of the financial affairs of the institution, such as collection of tzedakah and bookkeeper.Alpert, Carl. " Who ever suspected Gabbai of synagogue was 'agent'?" The New York Jewish Week. 22 March 1975. p. 15. The administrator of charitable funds might be called the gabbai tzedakah.Saiman, Chaim. " The Long Arm of Halacha: Jewish Law and the Madoff Scandal". Forward. 23 January 2009. p. 11.
A gabbai's responsibilities might also include maintaining a Jewish cemetery.
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