Public Employee Press

Board of Rabbis honors Fire Chaplain

Honored in December for his long and dedicated service by the New York Board of Rabbis was Rabbi Joe Potasnik, a Fire Dept. Chaplain and member of DC 37's Local 299.

Potasnik is the current executive vice president and former president of the NYBR and senior rabbi at Brooklyn's Congregation Mt. Sinai. He co-hosts WABC radio's "Religion on the Line" every Sunday.

He responds to multi-alarm fires and building collapses and sometimes rides in ambulances, praying with gravely injured Firefighters of all religions. "A listening ear, a listening heart gives comfort and prayer gives strength," he said. "Firefighters are the most religious people."

Even Chaplains have on-the-job issues, some related to their 24/7 workweek, he explained, "and there we have faith in the union. Our leaders do a wonderful job for us."

Well-wishers at the Dec. 19 award ceremony included former Mayor Ed Koch, Borough Presidents Scott Stringer and Marty Markowitz, Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Comptroller John Liu, who praised Potasnik for "speaking out about human rights and tolerance."