Mughal Administration c18.s4.6

c18.s4.6

The Russian government, under Tsar Nicholas I, adopted a contradictory policy towards the Jews. On one hand, it sought to "civilize" them through compulsory secular education and military service; on the other, it imposed harsh restrictions on their movement and economic activities. The infamous "cantonist" system, which conscripted Jewish boys into the army for long periods, was particularly devastating, as it often led to forced conversion to Christianity. Despite these pressures, the Jewish community maintained its internal cohesion through its religious institutions and communal organizations.