In Russia, some believe the Jews have a secret vegetable that prevents them from becoming alcoholics and that they refuse to share that vegetable. Like many other Jewish conspiracy theories, the origin of this conspiracy dates back centuries to a story about Golovan, a Russian folk hero.
Golovan was hero in Russia who had mystical powers, such as warding off the plague, that he used for good. Because he was so pure, the Russian people tolerated many of his un-Christian behaviors, like giving milk to Jewish people. However, the people believed he was kind to the Jews only so he could learn two of their valuable secrets: how they lie in court and how they drink without getting drunk–a secret hairy vegetable.
Because of this minor detail in a folk story, many Russians currently believe the Jews possess a secret vegetable. Why?
This conspiracy theory has persisted for so long because it has been passed through the generations through storytelling, and it gives alcoholics someone to blame for their addiction. Parents telling their young kids folk stories with antisemetic undertones, like that of Golovan, ingrains a hatred of Jews in their kids’ minds. It also normalizes these feelings. Their heroes hold antisemetic beliefs, therefore, it must be morally right to hate Jews. Moreover, this conspiracy has persisted because it is attractive; it gives people someone to blame for their issues instead of themselves. When someone wonders why they can’t stop drinking, it is easy for them to blame the Jews for possessing a magic sobriety vegetable but not sharing it with anyone else. This is all part of the Jews’ master plan to get everyone drunk so they can take over the world. In reality, it is that person’s addiction that is preventing them from stopping. However, it is much easier for them to blame someone else than to reflect on themselves and accept their faults.
This conspiracy gained international attention in 2008 when Amy Fine Collins, a Vanity Fair correspondent, published a meditation on her Jewish identity. In it, she explains her Jewish friend’s experience in Russia. He was “troubled” by the anti-Semitism in Russia and asked a peasant why these feelings were so pervasive. The peasant proclaimed, “It is because the Jews have a secret vegetable they eat so they don’t become alcoholics like the rest of us. And they refuse to share that vegetable with anyone else.”
This is really fascinating. To me this conspiracy seems really silly. A secret vegetable in itself is a ridiculous concept. However it does truly harbor antisemitism indicative of the problem at large. The fact that such a casual conspiracy about a vegetable is indicative of blaming Jews for all problems is really crazy to think about.
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