The Cantonists - by Josef Mendelevich

About the Book

Aiming to create a homogeneous population, between 1827 and 1856 the Russian government implemented their malicious plan of forcefully converting Jewish children by conscripting them into harsh military frameworks. About 75,000 children were abducted from their parents. However, the Russians failed in their struggle against the children. Despite cruel punishments, 75% refused to convert to Christianity.

Book Synopsis

Before 1917, the Russian Tsar wielded absolute power over a vast empire, where more than 5 million Jews lived in isolation and segregation. Under the rule of Tsar Nicholas I (1825-1855), policies toward Jews became especially oppressive. Nicholas sought to erase Jewish identity by forcing their conversion to Christianity and promoting assimilation through mixed marriages. One of his most ruthless strategies was the implementation of the Cantonist system, which conscripted Jewish boys under the age of 13 into military service. These children were torn from their families and communities, subjected to brutal treatment, and pressured relentlessly to abandon their faith. Over three decades, approximately 75,000 Jewish boys were conscripted. Despite the immense hardships, the majority stood firm with only 25% succumbing to conversion. This powerful account sheds light on a dark chapter in history, illustrating the resilience of a people facing relentless oppression under an authoritarian regime.

Review Quotes

"The cantonist system was abolished when it became clear that it was too costly to maintain and provided little or no benefit. But as Mendelevich observes, it adversely affected an entire generation of Jews and left a 'cruel and inhumane' legacy. The Cantonists is a useful addition to the historiography of Jews in Russia, particularly since this subject has not received the attention it deserves."

- Sheldon Kirshner, The Times of Israel

"Within the darkness and oppression of Russia during the mid-19th century, The Cantonists shows the power of Jewish destiny. It shows how Jewish parents could, in a few years, raise boys to withstand a ruthless and evil bureaucracy."

--Ben Rothke, The Times of Israel

"A historical work of deep scholarly insight and emotional resonance, the book is the result of decades of research and draws on newly uncovered documents from Russian imperial archives. For Rabbi Mendelevich, the book is not just a personal achievement, it's a way of reclaiming and illuminating a forgotten chapter of Jewish resilience. He hopes the work will challenge assumptions, inspire further inquiry, and deepen readers' understanding of both Jewish endurance and Russian imperial policy. It's not just a book for academics, he said, "it's for anyone who cares about Jewish history, identity, and survival."

--The Jewish Link

"The world recognizes Yosef Mendelevich as a proud Jew and spectacular hero who challenged the Soviet Empire. This new volume reveals another aspect of this unique Jew. After his 1981 release from prison and his subsequent aliyah, Reb Yosef became both a rabbinic and academic scholar. This will become evident when one studies the English translation of his expanded master's thesis on the Cantonists. Rabbi Mendelevich attained this degree at the Jerusalem affiliate of Touro University. Published originally in Hebrew, it will now be available to a much wider and appreciative readership.

I am also pleased to note that the English version is published in tribute to our great mentor and cherished family friend Rabbi Dr. Aharon Rakeffet. He is indeed a most inspiring Torah teacher. Among his many accomplishments was his teaching Torah in the Soviet Union during the last decade of Communism. His friendship and support of Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich are the natural outcome of this mission.

Touro University is indeed proud to have both Rabbis Mendelevich and Rakeffet as distinguished members of our scholarly community."

--Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka, Executive Vice president, Touro University

"The cantonist system was abolished when it became clear that it was too costly to maintain and provided little or no benefit. But as Mendelevich observes, it adversely affected an entire generation of Jews and left a 'cruel and inhumane' legacy. The Cantonists is a useful addition to the historiography of Jews in Russia, particularly since this subject has not received the attention it deserves."

-- Sheldon Kirshner, The Times of Israel

"Within the darkness and oppression of Russia during the mid-19th century, The Cantonists shows the power of Jewish destiny. It shows how Jewish parents could, in a few years, raise boys to withstand a ruthless and evil bureaucracy."

--Ben Rothke, The Times of Israel

"A historical work of deep scholarly insight and emotional resonance, the book is the result of decades of research and draws on newly uncovered documents from Russian imperial archives. For Rabbi Mendelevich, the book is not just a personal achievement, it's a way of reclaiming and illuminating a forgotten chapter of Jewish resilience. He hopes the work will challenge assumptions, inspire further inquiry, and deepen readers' understanding of both Jewish endurance and Russian imperial policy. It's not just a book for academics, he said, "it's for anyone who cares about Jewish history, identity, and survival."

--The Jewish Link

"The world recognizes Yosef Mendelevich as a proud Jew and spectacular hero who challenged the Soviet Empire. This new volume reveals another aspect of this unique Jew. After his 1981 release from prison and his subsequent aliyah, Reb Yosef became both a rabbinic and academic scholar. This will become evident when one studies the English translation of his expanded master's thesis on the Cantonists. Rabbi Mendelevich attained this degree at the Jerusalem affiliate of Touro University. Published originally in Hebrew, it will now be available to a much wider and appreciative readership.

I am also pleased to note that the English version is published in tribute to our great mentor and cherished family friend Rabbi Dr. Aharon Rakeffet. He is indeed a most inspiring Torah teacher. Among his many accomplishments was his teaching Torah in the Soviet Union during the last decade of Communism. His friendship and support of Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich are the natural outcome of this mission.

Touro University is indeed proud to have both Rabbis Mendelevich and Rakeffet as distinguished members of our scholarly community."

--Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka, Executive Vice president, Touro University

"Within the darkness and oppression of Russia during the mid-19th century, The Cantonists shows the power of Jewish destiny. It shows how Jewish parents could, in a few years, raise boys to withstand a ruthless and evil bureaucracy."

- Ben Rothke, The Times of Israel

"A historical work of deep scholarly insight and emotional resonance, the book is the result of decades of research and draws on newly uncovered documents from Russian imperial archives. For Rabbi Mendelevich, the book is not just a personal achievement, it's a way of reclaiming and illuminating a forgotten chapter of Jewish resilience. He hopes the work will challenge assumptions, inspire further inquiry, and deepen readers' understanding of both Jewish endurance and Russian imperial policy. It's not just a book for academics, he said, "it's for anyone who cares about Jewish history, identity, and survival."

-- The Jewish Link

"The world recognizes Yosef Mendelevich as a proud Jew and spectacular hero who challenged the Soviet Empire. This new volume reveals another aspect of this unique Jew. After his 1981 release from prison and his subsequent aliyah, Reb Yosef became both a rabbinic and academic scholar. This will become evident when one studies the English translation of his expanded master's thesis on the Cantonists. Rabbi Mendelevich attained this degree at the Jerusalem affiliate of Touro University. Published originally in Hebrew, it will now be available to a much wider and appreciative readership.

I am also pleased to note that the English version is published in tribute to our great mentor and cherished family friend Rabbi Dr. Aharon Rakeffet. He is indeed a most inspiring Torah teacher. Among his many accomplishments was his teaching Torah in the Soviet Union during the last decade of Communism. His friendship and support of Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich are the natural outcome of this mission.

Touro University is indeed proud to have both Rabbis Mendelevich and Rakeffet as distinguished members of our scholarly community."

-- Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka, Executive Vice president, Touro University

About the Author

Josef Mendelevich was born in Soviet Latvia and pursued studies in communications engineering. A prominent advocate for human rights and Jewish national rights, he was sentenced in 1970 to twelve years in prison for his activism. In 1981, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he has since dedicated his life to education and Jewish scholarship.

He holds a rabbinic certificate from Israel's Chief Rabbinate and earned an M.A. in Jewish History from Touro College. Josef is an esteemed lecturer on Jewish history, speaking to audiences around the globe, and teaches Jewish studies at Machon Meir in Jerusalem.