The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed 21.16

In this episode of The Simpsons Flanders sets out to reform Homer by bringing the Simpsons family to Israel, the homeland. At first Flanders is reluctant to try to save Homer because he has tried in the past with no success. But, after encouragement from the reverend Flanders agrees to try. Once in Israel the group goes on a tour of the most holy places, after the omelet bar of course. While on the tour Flanders prays that Homer will "experience the redemptive power of this land," but at the moment that seems very unlikely. Flanders continues to believe and pray that Homer can be saved until he finds him asleep in Jesus' tomb. He then throws and fit on Homer, and comes to the conclusion that Homer cannot is not worth saving. In his rage, Flanders destroys his camera against the church wall and is banned from ever entering the church again. Flanders walks away, and Homer believes he went into the desert, so he goes after him. While in the desert searching for Flanders, who is actually at a movie, Homer gets caught in a sand storm. He gets lost and ends up walking the desert thirsty and hungry. Eventually he collapses and has a hallucination of the Veggie Tales coming to him and telling him he has been chosen for a great destiny. When he comes to Homer believes that he is the Messiah. The Simpson family finds out that Homer is suffering from Jerusalem Syndrome, which is when people suffer from delusions that they are the Messiah after being in Jerusalem. Homer goes out to spread the word about uniting all the religions and bringing peace, and Flanders believes he has finally reached him. That is until everyone becomes a victim of Jerusalem Syndrome and believes they are the Messiah. In the end Homer does learn a little bit from Flanders, and Flanders believes that Homer was the best fake Messiah.

As usual I found the funniest moments of this episode to come from the small things. I found it funny in the beginning when the Simpson family is going down the slip and slide doing crazy things while Flanders and the reverend talk. It shows such a contrast between the two types of people. Flanders would never engage in such behavior, but for the Simpsons family it is just another fun activity. I also liked the bit when the plane to Israel landed on the glass and broke it like what is done at Jewish weddings. It made it seem like the Simpsons family going to such a holy place was a celebration. The glass was just the beginning of the Jewish references that added humor to the episode. There was also a fiddler on the roof of the Wailing Waldorf (which poked fun at the famous hotel in New York). When the tour guide mentioned that Israel is the safest place in the world that was a nice jab at how this holy place is supposed to be safe, but in reality because of the constant .war and fighting is not.

I liked when Marge said "Shalom is the Aloha of this place" American tourists are also made the butt of a joke when Homer, decked out in USA clothes tells Flanders he doesn't have to show reverence because he is an American tourist. That is often how Americans in foreign lands act, with no reverence for the place they are. Often the Americans only want to take pictures and joke around. These little jokes and gags are what make the Simpsons episodes great. The biggest theme in this episode had to do with religion. Flanders in the symbol of religion on The Simpsons, while Homer Simpson is the notoriously nonreligious person. The A storyline tells a great story of the nonreligious finding a little bit of something good in religion while the gags add to much if the humor.