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April 19, 2026
Key Developments and What We're Discussing Today:
- I spoke with Brian Rosman, the genius behind the indispensable Homer Calendar that belongs in every Jewish home.
- Seven of the ten Jewish senators voted with the overwhelming percentage of Democratic senators to disapprove sales of armored bulldozers and 1,000-pound bombs to Israel. Democrats have not changed. Israel's policies are changing. Why should we transfer articles to any country that uses those particular articles in contravention of U.S. policy? These votes reflect the Netanyahu government's decision to further depart from the values that have historically undergirded the U.S.-Israel relationship and dissatisfaction with Israel's current government, not a departure from the Democratic Party's commitment to Israel's safety and security.
- Jewish students are far more concerned about antisemitism from the political right than antisemitism related to Israel or from the left. Maybe we should listen to them instead of organizations that fundraise and fearmonger off left-wing, Israel-related antisemitism, real and imagined.
- A new poll found overwhelming opposition among Jewish Americans to AIPAC's spending money raised by Republican donors in Democratic primaries against candidates who criticize Netanyahu's government. Among Jewish Democrats, AIPAC spending in Democratic primaries makes few Jewish Democrats more likely to support the AIPAC-endorsed candidate; in many cases, the spending backfires.
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Greetings!
Starting the second night of Pesach, a traditional Jewish practice each night is to count the 49 days from Pesach to Shavuot, a practice known as "counting the Omer." Today is the 17th day of the Omer.
In theory, one should not need a calendar to keep track of the Omer if one counts every night (the day starts the night before; most Jewish holidays begin at sundown the night before). But it can't hurt.
Twenty-seven years ago, I came across a calendar that melded my need to keep track of the Omer with what was then among my favorite TV shows: The Homer Calendar. It is pure genius, combining the details of counting the Omer with a healthy respect for The Simpsons.
For years, I wondered who created and maintained this site, which would lie dormant nearly all year and then spring to life a week or two before Pesach. Then, proving that one good deed leads to another, Brian Rosman, the site's creator, saw my Top Ten Signs You're At a Republican Seder, which went viral in 2022, in various formats and often without attribution to me.
We found each other and discovered that we had a shared interest in humor, Judaism, and politics (among many other things, Rosman had worked for Rep. Tom Lantos and later helped develop Romneycare).
I interviewed Rosman by email and subsequently, on Monday, by phone. What better time to share his insights? If not now, when?
Thanks for agreeing to let me interview you. I read your 2019 interview with Danny Zeff, which I encourage everyone to read, mainly because he asked many of the questions I would have asked, and his are better than the questions I'm going to ask. Seven years later, would you answer any of his questions differently?
No, my answers would stay the same. The Simpsons continues to work in smart Jewish references every once in a while. Like in 2022, when Krusty's manager tells Krusty he's behind in his Cameo personalized video recordings for fans. So Krusty opens up his phone and starts recording a video: "Hey hey, Jacob -- Your dad's super sad that he couldn't make it to your bar mitzvah. It's a real shanda. Also, all the best from dad's new wife, Shanda." (Laugh turns into a sigh). A few weeks ago, Marge was trying to be polite when talking about someone she didn’t like, so she called them a “J - E - R - Kosher symbol.”
This concept is, as you’ve said, "one joke taken way too far,” yet it remains popular. At this point, is putting out the calendar something you do by rote, or is it still interesting to you?
I continue to look each year for ways to make improvements on the site. I watch the Simpsons show every week, more or less, religiously. But updating the Omer dates each year requires time-consuming focus on minutiae. This year, I made a major overhaul to the design of the main page, which was turning into one enormous forever scroll. I do the html all by myself, and I’m far from an expert, so this was a big challenge. I draw comfort for myself by maintaining that doing all this every year somehow helps stave off cognitive decline.
Aside from The Simpsons, what shows or comedians do you find exceptionally funny?
My top recommendation is Alex Edelman, who combines his deep Jewish kishkes with hilarious takes on today’s life. I urge everyone to watch him online, then look for his live appearances. Also, I highly recommend the Netflix series Long Story Short – very Jewish and very funny. We laughed a lot this fall watching Shrinking and I still seek out Curb Your Enthusiasm or Veep clips when looking for ways to waste time.
Have you considered applying this concept to other Jewish holidays, either through a Simpsons connection or perhaps another show?
No - this is enough. But the Homer Calendar site has lots of examples of “Bart Mitzvah” shirts and parties, Simpsons-character mezuzot made from Pez dispensers, Simpsons kippot, and a synagogue’s Simpsons-themed Purim megillah reading.
Jews used to be a major force in comedy. While there are still Jewish comedians, we no longer seem to dominate the field like we used to. Do you agree, and if so, what do you think has led to that decline?
It’s great to see the expansion of people from all backgrounds into popular comedy. The Seinfeld show was clearly about Jews, but a lot of the Jewishness was implicit or coded. Some of today’s Jewish comedies and comedians are much more explicit about being Jewish, from Jon Stewart to Raanan Hershberg.
Some have said that Trump has made satire impossible because real life is more absurd than comedy. Do you agree?
No - things are absurd, but still, look at every week’s SNL cold open.
What role, if any, do you think humor has in politics and in winning elections today? What politicians do you think have a winning sense of humor?
My first political hero was Mo Udall, the Arizona congressman who ran for President in 1976. I worked on his campaign twice, and interned in his congressional office. He wrote an autobiography/joke book – perhaps the only politician to combine these genres. My favorite line of his came when he lost his bid to be Majority Leader in the Democratic Caucus: Q: What’s the difference between a cactus and caucus? A: On a cactus, the pricks are on the outside.
But today, not so much. Bernie Sanders is humorous, they say, and I loved Obama’s roast of Trump in 2011 (except for what it maybe led to). We could use more humor in politics and among politicians today. Perhaps Ukraine’s President Zelensky is a good model.
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Most Jewish senators voted to disapprove sales to Israel. On Wednesday, the Senate defeated two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval regarding arms sales to Israel and a resolution to end Trump's Iran War.
Forty Democrats voted to disapprove the sale of D9 armored Caterpillar bulldozers to Israel (S.J.Res 32) used to demolish Palestinian homes in the West Bank.
Thirty-six Democrats voted to disapprove the sale of certain 1,000-pound bombs to Israel (S.J.Res 138).
Seven of the 10 Jewish senators voted to disapprove both sales.
The reason is not a mystery. Why should we transfer articles to any country that uses those particular articles in contravention of U.S. policy?
To better understand why most Democrats voted to disapprove these sales, as well as why they voted earlier in the day to end Trump's Iran War, read these statements from California senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, Tim Kaine (VA), Elissa Slotkin (MI), Chris Murphy (CT), and Mark Kelly (AZ).
Rand Paul (KY) was the only Republican who voted against Trump's Iran War. No Republicans voted to disapprove either of the arms sales to Israel.
Democrats have not changed. Israel's policies are changing. These votes reflect the Netanyahu government's decision to further depart from the values that have historically undergirded the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) said that Democratic support for these sales would come back if Israel elected a new prime minister. These votes reflect dissatisfaction with the government of Israel's current policies, not a diminishment of Democratic commitment to the State of Israel's safety and security.
In fairness, prohibiting specific arms sales is not the only way to prevent Israel from using U.S.-supplied arms inappropriately. On Friday, Trump publicly "prohibited" Israel from bombing Lebanon. Is that how the U.S.-Israel relationship is supposed to work? No objections from Republicans, but I'm sure they'd have had nothing to say if Biden had publicly prohibited Israel from certain military operations.
Corrections. I'm entitled to my own opinions but not to my own facts, so I appreciate it when readers bring errors to my attention. In last week's newsletter, I asked you to compare J Street's statement on the Iran ceasefire to AIPAC's statement. Here is the correct link to AIPAC's statement. AIPAC is making the same unrealistic demands it made in 2015 when it opposed the Iran Deal, to which it added opening the Strait of Hormuz, now closed because Trump's war demonstrated the alternative to the Iran Deal in real life. I'm surprised AIPAC didn't add demands for Iran to give every child in America a pony and a chocolate ice cream cone--with sprinkles.
In Case You Missed It:
- Arno Rosenfeld reports that the first academic study comparing the experience of Jewish students on college campuses to that of other minority groups found that Jewish students were most likely to express concern related to traditional antisemitic stereotypes (62%) and antisemitism from the political right (60%). Fewer said they were worried about antisemitism related to Israel (45%) or coming from the left (45%). Overall, the study found that Jews and other marginalized populations, including Black and Muslim students, face comparable levels of discrimination. These results might be surprising to those who get their information about antisemitism on college campuses from Jewish organizations that fundraise on fear, but new polling confirms that the young people most likely to agree with antisemitic statements are on the political right.
- A new poll conducted by GBAO Strategies for J Street found overwhelming opposition among Jewish Americans to AIPAC's spending money raised by Republican donors in Democratic primaries against candidates who criticize Netanyahu's government. Forty percent of Jewish Democrats say that AIPAC support makes them less likely to support a candidate endorsed by AIPAC (47% say it makes no difference).
- Elad Nahorai explains how organizations and leaders laundered clips from an Islamophobic propagandist, deliberately distorted Hasan Piker's words, and erased context to manufacture a case against him. However, Noah Smith points out many other reasons that Piker is bad for Democrats.
Tweets of the Week. Rob B, JD Vance, and (after you've read Vance's tweet), Charles Mann.
Thread of the Week. The Nexus Project critiques the ADL's Mamdani Monitor.
Video Clip of the Week. Jon Stewart interviews Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon. You can send their new book to your member of Congress.
Vintage Music Clip of the Week. The Rolling Stones & Amy Winehouse.
The Fine Print. I read every reply to this newsletter. I reply as often as I can. All I ask is that you read the fine print before you reply or send me anything.
For those new to this newsletter. This is the newsletter even Republicans have to read and the original home of the viral and beloved Top Ten Signs You're At a Republican Seder (yes, I wrote it).
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Be sure to read my posts on distinguishing anti-Zionism from antisemitism, how to heal the generational rift on Israel and antisemitism, and the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
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