On this day in 1971, Jewish American screenwriter and producer Norman Lear debuted “All In the Family” on CBS. The show used humor and satire to confront issues of the day, including war, religion, sex, gun control, homosexuality, race, environmentalism, and more. Through comedy, Lear broadcast an ongoing national dialogue that highlighted both the need for change and the painful costs involved.
In many ways, Lear demonstrated that a light-hearted, but deft touch can be the best approach to the heaviest subject matter. Mimicking some of the greatest stories in Jewish tradition, such as the Book of Esther, the Book of Jonah, and the tale of Balaam, Lear showed us that the road to a brave new world is paved with imagination and laughs.
—Rabbi Josh Knobel