Ask The Rabbi: What does Beschert mean?

I had the pleasure of spending time with Rabbi Joe Potasnik at his office in Manhattan. I was with him to ask the question "What does Beschert mean?"

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik is presently the Executive Vice President (and former President) of the New York Board of Rabbis, the largest international body of its kind in the world and also serves as Senior Rabbi at Congregation Mt. Sinai in Brooklyn Heights.

He co-hosts WABC's Talk Radio "Religion on the Line" every Sunday morning and is the religious commentator for 1010 WINS Radio. He also hosts the award winning weekly television series "Faith to Faith" and has authored numerous articles, including the forward to "The Illustrated Jewish Bible for Children."

Rabbi Potasnik was appointed to the NYC Campaign Finance Board for two terms. He served as Chaplain of the FDNY and the Fraternal Order of Police, assisting many families cope with 9/11; and was recently appointed Chaplain of the NY Press Club.

Rabbi Potasnik received a B.A. from Yeshiva College, an M.S. from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University, and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.