The Financial Situation of Jewish Students in the Russian Empire in the Early Twentieth Century (Based Principally on Census Data from Ukraine)

Abstract

Abstract The article defines the characteristics of the material situation of Jewish students enrolled in the higher educational institutions of the Russian Empire, using Ukraine, whose territory was part of Russia, as an example. The author shows the attitudes of the Russian authorities toward the so-called ‘Jewish question,’ illustrates the restrictions faced by Jews when entering higher educational institutions and during training. The monthly and annual budgets of Jewish students and analysis of such data by comparison with Christian students’ budgets are presented. Proof is offered that the magnitude of the Jewish student budgets to cover daily living expenses was greater than that of their Christian counterparts. The article seeks to describe and compare the living conditions of Jewish students (housing, nutrition, health situation) with conditions faced by other students in the Russian Empire.