President Biden Attends Shiva to Mourn Norman Lear

Washington — President Biden on Saturday attended a shiva to mourn legendary television producer Norman Lear while on California fundraising swing. 

Lear, known for "All in the Family," "Maude," "The Jeffersons" and "One Day at a Time, died this week at age 101 of natural causes. 

In a statement, Mr. Biden said Lear was "a transformational force in American culture, whose trailblazing shows redefined television with courage, conscience, and humor, opening our nation's eyes and often our hearts."

He added that Lear "never shied away from tough topics, taking on issues of racism, class, divorce, and abortion, capturing the grace and dignity in people's lives. And during decades of political advocacy, he fought directly for free speech, a woman's right to choose, the environment, voting rights, and more."

The shiva, a weeklong Jewish mourning tradition, was at the home Lear shared with his wife, Lyn, 

Mr. Biden and first lady Jill Biden were in Los Angeles this weekend for campaign events, where he warned donors that former President Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. 

First lady Jill Biden expressed her gratitude during a recent fundraiser, stating that she is thankful to have Joe as our president during these challenging times.

"Joe is not only the right person for the job," Jill Biden emphasized. "He is the only person."

The Biden-Harris campaign announced last week that it anticipates raising over $15 million in just five days through a series of fundraisers in Boston, Washington, and Los Angeles, as well as through its ongoing small-dollar fundraising campaign.

The Bidens' fundraising tour coincides with the unsealing of a federal indictment in California, which charges the president's son, Hunter Biden, with nine counts of tax crimes.