A fellow came off the boat from Europe, looking for a job. He found out that they needed a Gabai (sexton) in the Shul. When he got there, he was informed that he would need to know how to read and write in order to fulfill his duties. Unfortunately, as he was illiterate, he was not accepted.
Swallowing his disappointment and pride, he went into the rag business. He started out with a little pushcart on the Lower East Side, and, little by little, he built up his business. Within a few years, with much Siyata DeShamaya (Heavenly Assistance) and wise investments, he became a millionaire.
He opened up a bank account, but still he couldn't read or write. He would sign his name with an "X".
Once, one of the tellers who knew this wealthy man was shocked to see him signing an "X". The teller exclaimed, "If this is how successful you are without knowing how to read and write, imagine where you would be if you did know!"
The wealthy man responded, "If I knew how to read and write, then I would be the Gabai in a Shul."
