Russia's Minority Jews As Cannon Fodder: Our History

 Nadene Goldfoot                                        

          Conscripts in today's Russian Army:  Hundreds of thousands of young Russian men are drafted into the country's military every year, a practice carried over from the Soviet Union-era and the Tsarist systems before that.   It is being revived at this moment.  No wonder that the Ukrainians have been so successful.  They have their country to defend while the Russian army is there without good reason.  

Today's young Russian men are being tapped to go directly into the Russian army without any previous experience.  The TV News is full of such reports such as ABC's viewing.  An interview of just such a  man was presented, and he was ready to do i

 Russians, mainly parents of draft-a get

 

Our Jewish history of living in Russia had pinpointed Jewish boys, not even yet men, who were used by the Russians in the army for front line duties.  That's why so many mothers would disfigure their sons somewhat in order to dissuade the army from taking them; horrible as it sounds.  There was no Canada close by to send them to in order to evade that knock at the door.

Conscription is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day under various names.  This is exactly what's taking place today; September 2022 in Russia.  Young men are being physically forced, picked up bodily and taken away to the army.  It's being shown on television.

Cantonists were underage sons of conscripts in the Russian Empire. From 1721 on they were educated in special "canton schools" (Кантонистские школы) for future military service (the schools were called garrison schools in the 18th century). The canton schools and the cantonist system were eventually abolished in 1857, following public and international criticism and the Russian defeat in the Crimean War.

Jewish cantonist recruits in 1843–1854, according to statistics of the Russian War Ministry. Only in the eleven years listed below – the total of 29,115 children were conscripted. Basing on these data, it was estimated that between 1827 and 1856, there were over 50,000 of them.

After 1827, the term was applied to Jewish and Karaite boys, who were drafted to military service at the age of twelve and placed for their six-year military education in cantonist schools. Like all other conscripts, they were required to serve in the Imperial Russian army for 25 years after the completion of their studies (in 1834 the term was reduced to 20 years plus five years in reserve and in 1855 to 12 years plus three years of reserve). According to the "Statute on Conscription Duty" signed by Tsar Nicholas I of Russia on August 26 (September 7 new style), 1827, Jews were made liable to personal military service and were subject to the same conscription quota as all other tax-paying estates ("sosloviya") in the Russian Empire. The total number of conscripts was uniform for all populations (four conscripts per each thousand subjects); however, the actual recruitment was implemented by the local qahals and so a disproportionate number of Jewish conscripts were underage.

In the aftermath of the Polish uprising of 1831, children of political prisoners and boys on the streets of captured cities often were abducted, and placed in cantonist schools, with the intent of their Russification, see Incorporation of Polish children into the Imperial Russian Army (1831-1832) for more.

The vast majority of Jews entered the Russian Empire with the territories acquired as the result of the last partitions of Poland of the 1790s; their civil rights were severely restricted (see Pale of Settlement). Most lacked knowledge of the official Russian language. 

Before 1827, Jews were doubly taxed en lieu of being obligated to serve in the army  and their inclusion was supposed to alleviate this burden. However, the number of recruits reduced the number of young men that could go into the workforce, and this in combination with political restrictions led to widespread destitution.

Pale of Settlement: 25 provinces of Czaraist  Russia (Poland, Lithuania, White Russia, Ukraine, Bessarabia, Crimea)

Russia was divided into northern, southern, eastern, and western "conscription zones" and the levy was announced annually for only one of them. The Pale of Jewish settlement was outside conscription in the fallow years, so the conscription in general and of cantonists in particular occurred once every four years, except during the Crimean War (1853-1856), when conscription was annual. 

The first 1827 draft involved some 1,800 Jewish conscripts; by the qahal's decision half of them were children. In 1843 the conscription system was extended to the Kingdom of Poland that was previously exempt from it.

The 'decree of August 26, 1827' made Jews liable for military service, and allowed their conscription between the ages of twelve and twenty-five. Each year, the Jewish community had to supply four recruits per thousand of the population. Strict quotas were imposed on all communities and the qahals were given the unpleasant task of implementing conscription within the Jewish communities. 

Since the merchant-guild members, agricultural colonists, factory mechanics, clergy, and all Jews with secondary education were exempt, and the wealthy bribed their way out of having their children conscripted, fewer potential conscripts were available; the adopted policy deeply sharpened internal Jewish social tensions. Seeking to protect the socio-economic and religious integrity of Jewish society, the qahals did their best to include “non-useful Jews” in the draft lists so that the heads of tax-paying middle-class families were predominantly exempt from conscription, whereas single Jews, as well as "heretics" (Haskalah influenced individuals), paupers, outcasts, and orphaned children were drafted. They used their power to suppress protests and intimidate potential informers who sought to expose the arbitrariness of the qahal to the Russian government. In some cases, communal elders had the most threatening informers murdered (such as the Ushitsa case, 1836), see mesirah. 

The Crimean War was a military conflict fought from October 1853 to February 1856 in which Russia lost to an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. The zoning rule was suspended during the Crimean war, when conscription became annual. During this period the qahals leaders would employ informers and kidnappers (Russian: "ловчики", lovchiki, khappers), as many potential conscripts preferred to run away rather than voluntarily submit. In the case of unfulfilled quotas, younger boys of eight and even younger were frequently taken.

Training and pressures to convert

Herzel Yankel Tsam, one of only eight recorded exceptions in the Russian army in the 19th century of Jewish cantonists who rose to the rank of officer without first converting to Christianity. Drafted as a 17-year-old cantonist, he became an officer in 1873. He was not allowed any promotions beyond captain until his retirement after 41 years of service, when he was given rank and pension of a colonel. In spite of pressures, he never converted.

All cantonists were institutionally underfed, and encouraged to steal food from the local population, in emulation of the Spartan character building. On one occasion in 1856, a Jewish cantonist, Khodulevich, managed to steal the Tsar's own watch during military games at Uman. Not only was he not punished, but he was given a reward of 25 roubles for his prowess.

The boys in cantonist schools were given extensive training in Russian grammar (and sometimes literature), and mathematics, in particular geometry necessary in naval and artillery service. Those who showed aptitude for music were trained in singing and instrumental music, as the Imperial Army had a large demand for military wind bands and choirs. Some cavalry regiments maintained equestrian bands of torban players, and cantonist schools supplied these as well. Some cantonist schools also prepared firearms mechanics, veterinarians for cavalry, and administrators ("auditors").

       Religion Conversion

The official policy was to encourage their conversion to the state religion of Orthodox Christianity and Jewish boys were coerced to baptism. As kosher food was unavailable, they were faced with the necessity of abandoning of Jewish dietary laws. Polish Catholic boys were subject to similar pressure to convert and assimilate as the Russian Empire was hostile to Catholicism and Polish nationalism. Initially, conversions were few, but after the escalation of missionary activities in the cantonist schools in 1844, about one third of all Jewish cantonists would have undergone conversion. There must be many Russian men surprised at finding their DNA matching Jewish people these days, and this is also true of German men as well.  I've even had experience with finding that happen to me.  They'll swear their ancestors never included any Jews and can possibly be quite huffy about it.  

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantonist#:~:text=Jewish%20cantonist%20recruits%20in%201843,were%20over%2050%2C000%20of%20them.

https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-conscripts-in-the-russian-military-2015-10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War

What Happened in Iran Has Been Happening: The Rich and the Poor

 Nadene Goldfoot                                     

Adrien Brody and Salma Hayek are the stars.  

I just finished watching Netflix's The Septembers of Shiraz, which is the shocking story of what took place in Iran when the Ayatollahs were able to step in.  It's about the Iranian Revolution and what it did to the rich and to the poor. 

Shiraz is a city in south-central Iran, known for its literary history and many gardens. The marble Tomb of Hafez, honoring the revered poet, sits within its own garden. To the east, the Mausoleum of Saadi houses the 13th-century writer’s mosaic-tiled tomb and an underground pool. Shiraz is a gateway to Persepolis, the ruined 6th-century-B.C. capital to the northeast, with its immense gateways, columns and friezes.  it sets the scene of this movie, something horrible happened here.  

      Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1973; b: 26 October 1919, d: 27 July 1980.  

The poor people  of Iran rebelled against the Shah, who I had thought was a great fellow.  He and Israel were getting along;  nothing like today under the Ayatollahs who are so full of religious fervor with all it's hatred against Judaism.  His government was probably like all the other kings and queens of the world; only more dictatorial.  Mohammad Reza came to power during World War II after an Anglo-Soviet invasion forced the abdication of his father, Reza Shah Pahlavi. During Mohammad Reza's reign, the British owned oil industry was briefly nationalized by Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh until an Army coup d'état supported by the UK and the US deposed Mosaddegh,

The British and the USA  reinstalled the Shah, and brought back foreign oil firms under the Consortium Agreement of 1954. The Shah went on to become a dominant figure in OPEC, promoting a surge in oil prices that crippled Western economies. People had become pretty Westernized.  When the Shah was booted out, what did his sponsors do about it?  Nothing?  

Documents now revealed expose Israel’s extensive and exceptional relations with a foreign country, not only because these political and security-based relations were with with a Muslim country, but because the relationship with the Shah’s dictatorship was strategic and central to the State of Israel from a security, economic and political point of view. At the time, Israel’s relations with many other countries were limited mainly to weapons sales in exchange for votes in international forums.

Thus, for example, Israel purchased a significant portion — and in some years all — of its oil from the Shah’s regime, while Iran used Israel as a middleman to sell its oil to third countries. The alliance over oil required that Israel and the Shah ensure the safety of shipping routes. This strengthened their partnership in the struggle against Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser’s repeated attempts to promote ideological and military alliances throughout the Middle East that were hostile to Iran and Israel, particularly in the Gulf states and the Arabian Peninsula.

                         Salma Hayek with role of wife

The story was about a Jewish diamond cutter who had his own business in Iran.  Suddenly the rebels were in control.  The Shah must have been just forced out of the country.  They now had the power and were going to rob the rich.  Their argument was, why should not all people have the same amount of money?  Why should there be people who have more and can have all these things while there are poor who cannot even afford shoes for their children?  It was the old banter of Communism. 

I can tell them in lecture after lecture why.  There are so many reasons why a democracy is so much better.  I'll start with my father.

                                             

My father, Meshke (Morris)-real name was Moses, standing in pcture, was born in 1908 in Portland, Oregon to new immigrants from Lithuania, Nathan Abraham Goldfoot and Zlata (Hattie) Jermulowske.  His father was in a fatal horse and wagon accident and was killed when Dad was 4 years old, leaving a pregnant widow who couldn't speak English, only Yiddish and her 3 children; 4 year old Meshke,  his 6 year old brother Kheskal, and Elsie.  My Bubba had lost Abraham, the baby, and soon would give birth to Anne. Bubby was illiterate; and would remain so,  and our unknown grandfather had been literate in reading Hebrew.  

Zlata managed to barely eke out a living plucking chickens, raising goats, doing what she could, while my father and Charlie sold newspapers at age 4 and 6, continuing with their jobs.  There was no help for her other than agencies that would have taken away her children from her.  She had relatives nearby; one who wanted to adopt my father.  He was so cute!   She said "NO."  She kept them all together, or rather they kept each other all together.                  

Dad boxed professionally as Billy Meshke at the Neighborhood House when of age to do so, then worked in a kosher butcher shop.  That led to his own business, small at first, then growing by leaps and bounds into Silver Falls Meat Packing Co.  He died too young in this very specialized business, but he was proud of his efforts.  He had given up  baseball in high school as he didn't finish his last year due to needing to work to provide for his family.  He was an athlete.  

This would have never happened under Communism.  The ability he had would have gone uncultivated.  It grew as he helped it develop.  If he wanted more money---he had to get the education for it, and that he did, in that kosher butcher shop.  He had background and knowledge.

You just don't get anywhere with an empty head with no knowledge.  People in the USA do everything they can to get the education they would like to have.  Most of us are too young and too dumb to know all this, so our parents step in and help us with decisions like what school to aim for in their education.  

Another man I know, just died at 95, was a lawyer, worked till he died like my father,  and his father had the law firm already established, so he followed in his father's footsteps.  That's good as he most likely has the genes fit for being successful, anyway.  He worked hard as a lawyer with the background of a great education and like friends. 

 His work that he produced was worth a lot of money due to that background.  It didn't come to him in scanning comic books.  He sweated a lot to get through his schooling.  All those books in the background had to be read to know the law.  Lawyer have basic prices they know they can expect to receive for their work.  The more successful they are, the more they can charge if they want.  

Now, his social security has been reduced  from a normal payout to a much lesser one due to his financial status of being wise and investing his profits and having a larger income.  His money that his wife is not receiving is going to new immigrants who are illegals, people in general like myself to raise our social  security for next year's income.  Remember, the richer lady is receiving less than us. 

Heaven help her as the stock market is falling rapidly.  It's all like being in a gambling parlor.  It's a gamble for the rich.   They tend to worry a lot about it, thus erasing years from their lives in such worry that the regular guy or gal knows nothing about.  Whatever in life, there's always something to worry about; whether you don't have enough money or if you're going to lose the money you have. 

Losing everything they're on the run, trying to get out of Iran.
 

Back to Netflix's story.  It was terrible how the people reacted and what they did to our Jewish family;  not so much that they were Jewish but that they had money, and those that were rebelling didn't have enough to meet their basic needs.  This is what the Ayatollah sparked in them;  this rebellion which went along with not following the rules of Islam, which they magnified 100%.  The people were trapped into two avenues; religion and finances.  

Adrien Brody playing the Jeweler-a captive under horrible interrogation methods.  

The story centers on the maid of the Jewish family and how when she thought about her son's explanation of the rebellion, she had to agree with it.  She saw only how it could benefit her; while she herself was angry with the lady of the house for not ever thinking about her position in life.  

To be a citizen of a country has always had meaning behind the title.  It should mean that the people are all being supplied the basic needs of life, but to excel, there must be avenues to go about doing it for the ones who put out the effort.  For years our basic education through high school has meant a job afterwards; that you are a literate person who has met the qualifications needed to be productive in whatever position you take of that level.  To do more, we have higher education all over the country, and grants, etc, for those who meet the qualifications, or the tuition.  

This time immigrants from Venezuaela got caught in the fracas.  Many migrants who arrived  from Venezuela, Uruguay, Colombia and Mexico told Fox News that they thought the border was open.  No excuse for Mexicans who should have known, even if only by word of mouth. Are none of them literate in their own language?  Are we not printing the facts of life for others to read?  The word is out that the US is a haven for countries that are problematic, and it's bringing in more than Mexicans now.  What kind of government are they all running from?  

Texas just did something about their being so close to the Mexican border.  They put illegals on buses and sent them all eastward to show Biden that he has to help Texas in their illegal immigration problem.  They must have thought, "Let Biden deal with it  and see how he likes it ! "

This is what closed the doors to Jewish immigration in about 1924.  Americans were afraid the Jews would take their jobs.  They didn't want the competition, so while Jews were dying in Europe, they couldn't find a country to open their doors to them.  The influx of Jewish immigrants was over.  It wouldn't even change during the ravages of the Holocaust.  To allow a German Jew into this country, my great uncle had to be the sponsor for one and pay for all his needs, and even to get him a job  if he couldn't.  It's always money that's the 1st concern in this life; money and one's religion.

1980, me in my new bottom floor apartment in Safed, Israel with bars on my living room windows so that terrorists would be stopped from entering.  I'm waiting for my things to arrive from the Us, so am sitting on a Sochnut single bed with a throw thrown over it to look like a daveno.  I'm dressed in my sheik dress for morning or bedtime, like a bathrobe.   I've studied Hebrew and just passed the 3 hour test by the skin of my teeth.  

I know what I went through to immigrate to Israel.  I had to undergo a 10 month Hebrew program and pass the test at the end to get a teaching position.  I was given low-low-low income housing for that period.  I was helped in getting a teaching position.  Is the USA capable of doing this for immigrants? 

 Of course, I was a wanted immigrant in Israel, and right now the USA doesn't need anymore Spanish speakers in  the USA, or soon Texas will revert back to being a Mexican state.   

Salma Hayek Pinault is a Mexican and American actress and producer. She began her career in Mexico with starring roles in the telenovela Teresa as well as the romantic drama El Callejón de los Milagros, for which she received an Ariel Award nomination.  Her father, Sami Hayek Domínguez, is of Lebanese descent. His ancestors hail from the city of Baabdat, Lebanon, a city Salma and her father visited in 2015 to promote her movie Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet.  She was raised as a Catholic.  

Adrien Nicholas Brody is an American actor and producer. He received widespread recognition and acclaim after starring as Władysław Szpilman in Roman Polanski's The Pianist, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor at age 29, becoming the youngest actor to win in that category.  His father is a Polish Jew.   Brody says he was raised "without a strong connection" to either Judaism or Christianity.

Resource:

https://www.netflix.com/title/80106744

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septembers_of_Shiraz

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi

https://www.972mag.com/israel-shah-iran-dictatorship/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11215335/Texas-sends-two-buses-containing-100-illegal-migrants-Vice-Presidents-DC-HOME.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salma_Hayek

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrien_Brody