Rabbi Michael Beals, who is known as “Joe Biden’s rabbi,” delivered the benediction on opening night of the Democratic National Convention. The evening’s program was running long, but at 11:20, six hours after Rabbi Beals and his wife Elissa has been inside the convention hall, he stepped to the stage and, for his first time at a political convention and his first time using a teleprompter, delivered the closing prayer. Rabbi Beals is the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Shalom in Wilmington, DE.

Other Jewish speakers included Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. Rabbi Sharon Brous delivered the invocation on the second night of the convention, held at the United Center in Chicago.