NOTES BY THE TRANSLATOR

Av. The month in the Jewish calendar corresponding to July-August. On the ninth day of Av the Temple was taken and destroyed by Titus.

Arba-Kanfos. Literally "four corners." A rectangular piece of cloth about one foot wide and three feet long, with an aperture in the middle large enough to pass it over the head. The front part of the garment falls over the chest, the other part covers the shoulders. To its four corners "Tzitzis," or fringes, are attached in prescribed manner. When made of wool, the Arba-Kanfos is usually called TALLIS-KOTON (which see).

Bar-Mitzwah. Literally "man of duty." A Jewish boy who has passed his thirteenth birthday, and has thus attained his religious majority.

Beadle. The functions of this officer in a Jewish community were somewhat similar to those of the constable in some American villages.

Candles. The Sabbath is ushered in by lighting the Sabbath candles, accompanied by a short prayer.

Cantonists. A term applied to Jewish boys drafted into military service during the reign of Nicholas I of Russia (1825-1855). Every Jewish community had to supply its quota; but as parents did not surrender their children willingly, they were secured by kidnappers specially appointed by the Community for the purpose. See CATCHER. The same term was applied to the children of Russian soldiers who were educated for the army in the so-called District, or Canton, Schools. Hence the name.

Catcher. An agent of the Jewish community prior to the introduction, in 1874, of general military duty in Russia.

Havdolah. Ceremonial with wine, candles, and spices, accompanied by a prayer, at the end of the Sabbath.

Haggodah. The ritual used at the Passover eve home service.

Hallah. In commemoration of the priest's tithe at the time of the Temple. The ceremonial consists of taking a piece of the bread dough before it is baked and throwing it into the fire; a prayer is recited at the same time.

Heder. Literally, "a room." Specifically, a school in which Bible and Talmud are taught.

Kaddish. Literally, "sanctification." A prayer recited in commemoration of the dead.

Karaites. Members of a Jewish sect that does not recognize the authority of the Talmud.

Kosher. Literally, "right," "fit." Specifically applied to food prepared in accordance with the Jewish dietary laws.

Klaus. A synagogue to which students of the Talmud resort for study and discussion.

Lamdan. A scholar learned in the Torah.

Mezuzah. Literally, "door-post." A piece of parchment, inscribed with the SHEMA (which see), together with Deut. 11:13-21, rolled up, and enclosed in an oblong box, which is attached in a prescribed way to the door-post of a dwelling.

Modeh-Ani. Literally "I affirm." The opening words of a brief confession of faith.

Shaatnez. Cloth or a garment made of linen and wool woven together; or a wool garment sewed with linen thread; or a linen garment sewed with wool.

Shema. Literally, "listen," The opening words of Deut. 6:4-9.

Shemad. Literally, "extermination." Applied figuratively to renunciation of the Jewish faith, whether forced or voluntary.

Shohet. A slaughterer of cattle licensed by a rabbi. He must examine the viscera of cattle according to the rules laid down in the Talmud.

Tallis-koton. Literally, "the little Tallis," or prayer shawl. Worn by some Jews. See ARBA-KANFOS.

Torah. Literally, "doctrine." A term applied to the Pentateuch, and to the Talmud with its commentaries.

Tzitzis. See ARBA-KANFOS.

Yom-Kippur. Day of Atonement.

Zhid (fem. Zhidovka: zh sounded like z in azure). Literally, "Judean." Russian equivalent of English "sheeny."

__________________________ TRANSCRIBER'S DISCUSSION

The book presents a softer side of Cantonist life than history records. The abducted children (as young as eight) were usually raised in barracks ('Cantonments') under brutal conditions designed to break their Jewishness. Speaking Yiddish, or any sign of Jewishness or religious practice, was punished by starvation, beatings, and if that failed outright tortures, resulting in many deaths, as well as suicides. At age 18, the lads began a 25 year term in the army. Reversion to Judaism at any time thereafter was a crime. At its height, in 1854, official records show 7,515 Cantonists conscripted into the Russian army. The Cantonist laws were ended in 1856 by Tsar Alexander II, almost as soon as he came to power.

Alexander II created a general draft in 1874, affecting all Russians. One message of the book is clear; whatever worries Jewish parents may have regarding their drafted child's ability to maintain their religion, this modern draft was vastly preferable to the Cantonist system, and might even be welcomed for its fairness.

In retrospect, Steinberg was really using the Cantonist topic as a backdrop for a cultural study. He presents us with several characters, each at a different place in the gray zone between Jewish and Christian cultures: two Cantonists, one clinging to the Jewish side (Jacob); one closer to the non-Jewish side (Samuel, the narrator); as well as a Jewish convert unhappy with her lot (Anna, whose abuse of Samuel we later understand as the 'self-disdain' often seen among those who had left Judaism); her daughter Marusya, who although fully Christian is ostracized as being a Jewess, and struggles unsuccessfully to find her place in life; and Peter Khlopov, a full Christian who finds Jewish culture agreeable. Steinberg's portrayal of Samuel makes it clear, even in the first few pages, that Samuel, although Jewish, thinks very much like a Russian peasant; in a very real way he straddles that fringe zone between the two distinct societies.

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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Serge Ivanovich acute accent over the a, throughout the text

At such moments he would be ready to hug "be" was erroneously "he" in source text

Zhidovka acute accent over the o, throughout the text

nebulae ae written as a ligature

Vassil Stefanovich Zagrubsky acute accent over the u, throughout the text

manoeuvres oe written as a ligature