In the State Duma of the Russian Federation, it was stated that “Cheburashka” has “Jewish origins”

Cheburashka — from Israel? State Duma deputies decided to discuss the Jewish roots of the Soviet hero

The internet exploded with a video recording of a meeting of the State Duma’s budget and tax committee, where deputies unexpectedly talked not about taxes, but about… the origin of Cheburashka.
The outcome of their discussion surprised even seasoned politicians: in their opinion, the beloved hero of Soviet cartoons has Jewish roots.

Oranges from Israel as evidence

The main argument of the deputies looked almost like a detective version of Soviet classics.
Cheburashka, the meeting participants reminded, arrived in the Soviet Union in a box of oranges. And in those years, these fruits were supplied to the USSR exclusively by the country of Israel.
“If he arrived in a box from Israel — the conclusion is obvious,” noted committee chairman Andrey Makarov, causing laughter in the hall.

From the economic committee — to cultural archaeology

The joke, which started with an anecdotal tone, unexpectedly turned into a discussion of cultural symbols.
For some deputies, this is just a funny story, for others — a reason to remember how Soviet myths were formed at the intersection of cultures. After all, Cheburashka is not just a character, but part of the emotional memory of an entire generation that grew up on cartoons where good always triumphed, no matter what.

A small hero with a big identity

The idea of Cheburashka’s “Jewish origin” brought a smile to many, but also made them think: why do even fictional images continue to be a mirror for conversations about identity?
In a country where symbols of the past often become a tool of politics, the conversation about a cartoon hero suddenly turned out to be much deeper than it seemed.

When irony becomes a form of historical analysis

Some saw satire in this discussion, others — a hint at cultural unconsciousness. After all, if you dig deeper, in every Soviet symbol you can find traces of dozens of national histories: from Odessa humor to Israeli sun.

And in this, perhaps, lies the essence.
It doesn’t matter where Cheburashka came from — from Tel Aviv or from the imagination of writer Eduard Uspensky. What matters is that he still unites people, reminding them that friendship and goodness are universal, even when there are debates about roots.

NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency