The Cantonists' Decree: A Dark Chapter in Jewish History

On the eve of Chanukah in the year 1826, Alexander I, Emperor of Russia, passed away. His death was shrouded in mystery.

In the city of Taganrog, far from the capital, he was found dead without any attendants, leading to years of rumors about the cause of his death or even whether he died at all.

The Jews of Russia had no idea how consequential this day would become. Kings die and are replaced. Alexander's successor was supposed to be Constantine, but miraculously, a renunciation letter in his name emerged while he was in distant Warsaw, and thus the next heir-apparent came into the spotlight - Nicholas, a young and unpopular figure in government circles. Nicholas declared himself the Czar of Russia. The word "Czar" is a Slavic distortion of "Caesar."

This declaration led to a rebellion. Three thousand Russian soldiers refused to pledge allegiance to the new Czar, questioning the authenticity of Constantine's letter. But Nicholas crushed the rebellion with brutality, which was only the beginning (in every sense) of his absolute and dictatorial rule over Russia's residents (stories say that when the ropes tore during the hanging of the rebellion leaders, an occurrence which traditionally acquitted the accused, Nicholas ordered their re-hanging).

Czar Nicholas established his reign of terror, and at some point turned to "put the Jewish community in order," to make Jews useful citizens. Three years after his accession, in 1828, Czar Nicholas decided to revoke the exemption Jewish communities had from military conscription in exchange for money. This wasn't any act of kindness from the government; they didn't want Jewish soldiers, didn't trust them, and weren't willing to give them uniforms or weapons. The government exploited this exemption to receive considerable money. But Czar Nicholas decided that from now on every Jewish community would have to supply a certain quota of soldiers. Not believing Jews could be soldiers, and knowing stubborn Jews wouldn’t abandon their faith even in the army or under any condition, he imposed the decree on children. This was the infamous Cantonists’ decree.

Canton, meaning district, required each one to provide a certain number of future soldiers. Small children aged 6-8 were kidnapped from their homes and placed in harsh military educational institutions. Their rights were ignored. The goal was to turn them into useful citizens who would contribute to "Mother Russia." Nicholas didn't think a seven-year-old could remember or cling to their Jewish identity too strongly. However, he was in for a bitter disappointment; Jews teach their children about faith from birth, not waiting until they’re adults. These Jewish children were stubborn, and all the torture and pressure applied to convert them usually failed. A group of children taken to a river to be baptized jumped into the raging waters, choosing death over conversion.

Many of the Cantonists didn’t survive the harsh conditions. Those who did were often broken, but some had the fortune to return to their hometowns after twenty-five years of forced service, meeting family members who had survived. It was a very harsh decree that shook the Jewish world.

Another decree he issued was the Clothing Decree in 1844, banning Jews from wearing traditional long garments and growing beards. Some of the great Chasidic leaders declared this decree as a violation of faith that should be met with self-sacrifice - like Rabbi Yitzchak of Vorka, the Chassidic Rebbe known as the Chidushei HaRim of Gur, and others. Conversely, many Lithuanian rabbis believed there was no need to sacrifice oneself over this, as did Chabad Rebbes, leading Lithuanians to adopt the then-modern Western dress of a hat and short coat, while Chasidim preserved the traditional Jewish attire. This decree caused much distress and hardship for Russian Jews and all Jews in Poland, then under Russian rule.

On the eve of Purim in 1855, Czar Nicholas died, a narrow-minded and adversarial ruler who oppressed even his own people, but especially the unfortunate Jews. Jews celebrated with joy and light. The next Czar, Alexander, though not a saint, abolished both terrible decrees, the Cantonists' decree and the Clothing Decree.