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On March 28th Homer Simpson and the rest of his yellow-headed family will head to Jerusalem. It’s actually not so surprising. Travels, and the lessons learned along the way, have been an important part of this cartoon family’s journey of self-discovery for years.
At the urging of their all-too-sweet, but entirely sincere Christian neighbor, Ned Flanders, the Simpsons will visit the Holy land in the hope of that it will inspire them to be better people. That alone is revolutionary.
Imagine — people visiting sites of spiritual significance not to rally around a particular flag or faith, but in order to become better human beings. For that insight alone, the show’s producers are to be congratulated. And it works, sort of.
Homer comes down with a bit of Jerusalem syndrome, an actual illness in which people become convinced they are the Messiah. Apparently Homer doesn’t get that wacky, but he does become convinced that he can unite the world’s Abrahamic faiths and can do so around the fact that they all like chicken.
But rather than see this as mocking either Jerusalem or Homer, I think the show reminds of the fact that Jerusalem, like any spiritual center, can wake up our best angels (the desire to see people united) and our worst demons (the arrogance to think that we alone know how to do it). And it’s not always clear, which is which. At a moment when Jerusalem is very much in the news and activities there are so capable of dividing even the best of friends that seems like a good thing to bear in mind.
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About Windows & Doors
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula. More About Brad
IntelligentTalkRadio.com
clal.org
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posted March 24, 2010 at 11:04 am
I totally agree with your interpretation, and I can not wait to see this episoode. I like the way the writers think. There are many wonderful hidden messages within the many episodes of The Simpsons.
posted March 24, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Their travel shows are hilarious. I can’t wait to see this one. The one when they went to Ireland is legendary.
posted March 25, 2010 at 12:08 am
Bravo, to the Producers. Finally, we are seeing what needs to be shown around the world. A Great City, Country, and History rolled into one, for all to enjoy.
Thank you for your great work.