LIFE UNDER CZARIST RULE
Jewish life in Russia was a very restricted one, and was very much affected by the whim of the Czarist government. Jews were told where they could and could not live and what kind of work they were permitted to do. Jews were subject to pejorative treatment and were subject to pogroms, which  were outbreaks of violence against them. All this hatred and violence forced many Jews to emigrate to other countries, especially the United States.

JEWS IN THE RUSSIAN ARMY
Life was especially difficult for the Jewish males in Russia, who were treated very harshly in the Czar's army. Before the reign of Nicholas I in 1827, Jews were kept out of the army because including them with the other fighting men might have suggested that the Jewish soldier had earned the same rights as the non-Jewish soldier. When finally they were conscripted into the army, youths of twelve years of age or younger were forced to serve and quotas were imposed on towns that had to be met.

STORIES FROM OUR ANCESTRAL HOMES
There are so many stories of our beloved families, both of their struggles and their triumphs, those who lived in Europe before the advent of the second World War. In this exhibition you can read a few of these stories, two from denizens of Czyzew and one from Jedwabne. Each represent in some small way the Jewish culture and experience during those difficult times.