Of Biden’s three children, all three married Jews. His late son, Beau Biden, was married to Hallie Olivere, and his daughter, Ashley Biden, married Howard Krein, a Jewish doctor. His other son, Hunter, married Melissa Cohen. The couple has matching tattoos that say, “shalom,” which implies “peace” in Hebrew.
“If I’m going to change, I do know where I’m going,” Biden said in 2016 about his Jewish relations and support for Jews in Israel.
Biden has long been considered an advocate for Israel’s Jews. He has also talked about his large collection of yarmulkes he has gathered from attending Jewish events.
Biden has also been honored by the World Jewish Congress for his work in helping Israel and the Jewish people. “I’m a Zionist, and you would like not be a Jew to be a Zionist,” he said.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Uriel Sinai/Stringer
Original publication date: November 11, 2019, Updated 2024.