OPPRESSION OF THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 435, 2 June 1871, Page 2

OPPRESSION OF THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.

A short time since it was reported that the Emperor of Itussia, desirous, of bringing about such an assimilation of the Jews in hi* domimon Wl th.the rest.of hispeople as-thafeAvhich He imagined to exist in Germany, had issued certain vevy-foolish and oppressive regulations as to the dress ,and particularly the hair of his rnaloand female subjects belonging to the Jewish faith. Having " their hair cut shorfc and their coats, cut, long'^ould, he calculated, make them fight like lions-for it was chiefly the bravery, displayed by the Jewish, soldiers in the late war which had inspired his Majesty wtth tins sublime notion. But on .second thoughts these measures, tilling as they were, did not seem to suffice. A new more oppressive, and at the same time utterly, tutile decree has emanated from his Majesty, ordenng the Jews henceforth neither to pray in-Hebrew nor in Polish, but in Russian. Anything, more calculated fo exasperate the orthodox Jews in his dominions and more difficult to enforce cannot be imagined.; Even npart from the fact that no Jew is by any religious law bound to pray in a synagogue ~ praying ■ with a -congregation being"meraly recommended—and that a supervision- of private devotion would be a rather troublesome task, his Majesty seems to forget that people need not open their lips when they pray; and, whether the precenter sang'in 'Jimbuctoo or in Sanscrit,, the individual worshippers may always stick to his .Hebrew* even in those prayers which hitherto used to be recited loudly. And what will be done with thosa prayers which the Ritual insists upon being absolutely " silent ?"—Pall Matt' Gazette. ■'■ ■ • *' '>' ■•■