"Gabbai" is the traditional title of the custodian of a synogogue, though his responsibilities include more than just cleaning up. A gabbai is always male- if a given synagogue has a female custodian, it is probably not so traditional that it is calling her "gabbai". In shtetl times, a gabbai was something of a personal assistant and secretary for the Rabbi, and if charged with the task, would also go door to door collecting money for the poor, or running messages. In folklore and literature, a gabbai is typically pious, underappreciated, and poor.