The affair of those being drafted to the army in the days of kidnapping (Cantonist mandatory conscriptions) were passed. Instead, a decree was pronounced that every man 21 and older, rich or poor, stranger or native must report to the army drafting authorities. There were three groups of people who were exempt. The first- single sons whose father was dead. They were called "ligatim". The second group included firstborn sons whose brothers were four years younger. The third group included the youngest sons in a family with brothers who have already been drafted. These privileges were considered only when the number of the soldiers met the needs of the army.
During the first years there was no punishment for those who didn't report for duty. There were men who evaded the draft. For that reason, many of the families whose sons were exempt tried to encourage them not to evade by giving them money. This way the army didn't need to take the exempt.
This is the way it was until a warning was pronounced that evasion would cause a fine of 300 rubles. Those who were to be drafted weren't impressed with the warning and demanded that the community fund the equipment soldiers had to buy. The community responded positively to their demand and for that purpose they used money from korovki tax (tax on meat, candles and more). The struggle of the drafted to fund their requests was hard. They claimed that they needed to prepare boots, underwear, and other things a soldier must have. They used methods of pressure like delaying the prayer at the synagogue, getting drunk and causing scandals. Of course, they themselves were in bad condition because they had to leave their home for a few years. They claimed that they deserve some compensation. There was a big sigh of relief when the drafting period was over. There were cases when the community leaders broke the promise to give the soldier the grant of few hundred rubles. Since they were already in the army, their families continued the fight with the assistance of new candidates for the draft. This issue continued to be a cause of trouble.
From the time the young founded revolutionary movements- they used to take harsh measures against the community. They used, for example, to lock the Mikva (ritual bath), they took instruments from the Shokhet (ritual slaughterer) and force the administrator to allocate funds for those who are drafted. The pressure worked and most of them received money, a hundred rubles or more. There were some others who later fled to the United States.
One year there was a big scandal concerning the draft of the sons of the community leaders. As it was common they picked on those with exemptions and demanded money, but they refused to give it. A big fight took place, bones were broken, and one of the youngsters convinced the merchants to close the shops. The police were helpless. They could not control the fight. Gentiles with clubs came to help. Obviously the draftees had the support of overexcited street gangs who poured their anger on their opponents.
The draftees extracted money during that year from every possible source. They even got 800 rubles from the korovki tax claiming that it serves no important purpose anyway.
The draftees were remembered many years later. When the community's cash was empty they confiscated possessions of those who were exempt. They took everything, bedding, copper and precious possessions, and did not give it back until the families paid to redeem it.
Those who were exempt also faced hard times. Authorities began to suspect that they were released on false documents. They were instructed to bring testimonies of Christians who swore in front of a Priest. Based on these testimonies and a strict investigation the police issued the necessary document. But the rich always found a way to overcome obstacles; they knew how to pass these obstacles, and paid whoever " had to be paid" so that things will settle their way.
On Yom Kippur of 1924 this happened: a group of youngsters broke in and delayed the Torah reading in the old synagogue. These are their words: " since we are going to be drafted- you must promise us "candies"- otherwise- no man will come for Amidah…" all were shocked. The new Rabbi (Rabbi Mirsky) asked some young men to help. Some of them approached the youngsters who caused the noise and said, "this is no place for disturbances" while removing their talit and preparing for a fight. The youngsters understood that they would be thrown out by force and left. The Cantor was able to begin praying. People discussed the incident with sadness. For young Jews to do such a thing? They felt they had to ask forgiveness from the previous groups- they, at least, behaved like Jews.
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