Is He Ours!?" Israel Reacts to Debates on Cheburashka's Jewish Origin 0 7

Debates about Cheburashka's nationality speak to the openness of cultures and the similarity between Russian and Jewish senses of humor. This was stated by the Consul General of Israel in St. Petersburg, Ran Gidor.

"The creators of the Cheburashka cartoon were Soviet Jews, but unfortunately, it is still unknown what nationality he himself is," Gidor explained. He noted that Cheburashka has become an iconic character in Israel as well. "After all, metaphorically speaking, he made aliyah, coming to our country with the wave of Soviet emigration," the consul general stated.

According to him, Cheburashka could not only become a symbol of friendship between the two countries but also be included in the honorary list of Jews who contributed to the development of Russian culture, alongside Sergei Eisenstein, Isaac Babel, and Moisei Vainberg. Later, the Israeli consul clarified his statement:

"I knew that Cheburashka is very popular in Russia — and, of course, among Russian-speaking Israelis — but I must admit, I was surprised at how viral my comment became. Apparently, people sometimes get tired of serious news, and they are attracted to the combination of humor and nostalgia. In any case, I am very glad that we can exchange opinions so casually with our Russian friends, which proves our openness and similar sense of humor," the diplomat pointed out.

Gidor also emphasized that Cheburashka's nationality is unknown. According to him, the only way to verify his Jewish affiliation is to check for circumcision and ensure that he does not eat pork.

Earlier, during a discussion of budget amendments in the State Duma, there was a debate about Cheburashka's national affiliation. During the dispute among participants about funding the "Native Toy" competition, the head of the budget and tax committee, Andrei Makarov, suggested that the character is from Israel, as oranges were brought from there to the Soviet Union.