The moment Gene Scheer heard President Biden recite his 'American Anthem'

WASHINGTON (JTA) - Gene Scheer had a deadline looming. He was getting ready for the CD release of one of his Holocaust-related works, timed for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, one week away.

But on Jan. 20, Scheer, a Jewish librettist whose works include the operas "Therese Raquin" and "Moby-Dick" and an adaptation of the Christmas classic "It's A Wonderful Life," took time out to watch Joe Biden's inauguration as president.

The relief he felt as he watched Biden, who had been his preferred candidate, take the oath of office gave way to shock when the new president began quoting a fav...