Even those who, as skilled artisans or discharged
soldiers, had been privileged to reside wherever they chose, were
expelled with their wives and the children born in their adopted city.
Their only salvation lay in conversion. Converts were especially
favored, and were offered liberal inducements. By becoming a convert to
the Orthodox Russian Church, a Jew is immediately freed from all the
degrading restrictions on his freedom of movement and his choice of a
profession. Converts, without distinction of sex, are helped financially
by an immediate payment of sums from thirteen to thirty rubles, and
until recently were granted freedom from taxation for five years. If a
candidate for Greek Christianity is married, his conversion procures him
a divorce, and, unless she likewise is converted, his wife may not marry
again. By conversion, a Jew may escape the consequence of any misdeed
against a fellow-Jew, for, to quote the Russian code, "in actions
concerning Jews who have embraced Christianity Jews may not be admitted
as witnesses, if any objection is raised against them as such." The
penal code provides that Jews shall pay twice and treble the amount of
the fine to which non-Jews are liable under similar circumstances.
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