territory of the Pale of Settlement itself by expelling the Jews from
the villages and driving them into the over-crowded cities.

The soul of the Jewish people was filled with sorrow, and yet there was
no way of protesting publicly in the land of political slavery. The Jews
had to resort to the old medieval form of a national protest by pouring
forth their feelings in the synagogue. Many Jewish communities seemed to
have come to an understanding to appoint the 18th of January as a day of
mourning to be observed by fasting and by holding religious services in
the synagogues. This public mourning ceremony proved particularly
impressive in St. Petersburg. On the appointed day the whole Jewish
population of the Russian capital, with its numerous Jewish
professionals, assembled in the principal synagogue and in the other
houses of prayer, reciting the hymns of perpetual Jewish martyrdom, the
_Selihot_. In the principal synagogue the rabbi delivered a discourse
dealing with the Jewish persecutions.

When the preacher--an eye-witness narrates--began to picture in a
broken voice the present position of Jewry, one long moan, coming,
as it were, from one breast, suddenly burst forth and filled the
synagogue. Everybody wept, the old, the young, the long-robed
paupers, the elegant dandies dressed in latest fashion, the men in
Government service, the physicians, the students, not to speak of
the women. For two or three minutes did these heart-rending moans
resound--this cry of common sorrow which had issued from the Jewish
heart. The rabbi was unable to continue. He stood upon the pulpit,
covered his face with his hands, and wept like a child.

Similar political demonstrations in the presence of the Almighty were
held during those days in many other cities. In some places the Jews