Ukase [Imperial Decree Concerning the Jews of Kovno]

In the 1795 partition of Poland, Kovno [Kaunas], Lithuania, became part of Russia. In 1797 the Christians in Kovno, dismayed by the numbers of Jews and their privileges, agitated for the expulsion of the Jews. (Had they succeeded, this would have been the third time in history the Jews were expelled from Kovno. In 1753 they were expelled from land belonging to the municipality. They were expelled a second time in 1761, folowing anti-Jewish riots. At that time they found refuge in the suburb of Slobodka on the other side of the River Viliya. They were subsequently permitted to return to Kovno proper in 1782.) This Ukase, or edict, by order of the Ruler of All Russia (Tsar Paul), permits the Jews to remain in Kovno Gubernia (the Government of Kovno), thus maintaining the status quo. The edict is to be announced to both Jews and Christians. (See EJ, Vol. X, col. 847) The manuscript, an official copy of the original Ukase, is written in an unusually beautiful hand. However, the evolution of the Russian language over the past two hundred years, in terms of grammar, syntax, etc., makes decipherment of the document a challenge for the reader of Modern Russian