Forgot to count the Omer last night? Doh!!
More and more Web users are keeping track of the traditional counting
of the 49 days between the second night of Passover and Shavuot with
help from Homer Simpson.
At www.jvibe.com/homer, Homer's famously bald head and unshaven
visage in scenes from the long-running Fox-TV series "The Simpsons"
adorns an interactive calendar that provides visitors the day's count
number and daily blessing. Printable calendars for individual weeks or
the entire period are available, too.
Site creator Brian Rosman said he marked some 5,000 hits when the
site made its debut in 2002. As of Tuesday, an automated counter had
recorded more than 112,000 visits.
"It's been really gratifying to see how fast it's catching on,"
said Rosman, 47, who fell in love with "The Simpsons" while watching
the show on Israeli cable with his daughter. He now lives in Boston.
"It's a way of using pop culture to learn something about Judaism."
The site contains an explanation of how the ritual began. Although
he is Reconstructionist and discusses the agricultural origins of the
practice (ancient Jews brought an offering of barley to God on the
second day of Passover and counted the days until they brought baked
loaves on Shavuot), he includes links to Orthodox sources. The site is
rich as well with appreciation of the Jewish characters and plots that
have appeared during the show's 16-year run.
A disclaimer notes that the use of Homer's copyrighted mug is
unauthorized by Fox, and the network's lawyers two years ago sent
Rosman an order to cease and desist. But Rosman replied that he feels
the site amounts to fair use because it's a parody, and added that it
creates good will toward the show in the Jewish community.
He takes as an assent the fact that since then he has not heard
from the network. Rosman also notes that the '02 letter was dated on
Shavuot - the last day on the Homer calendar.
"It reminded me of the joke about the zoning board giving the man eight days to take down his sukkah," said Rosman.