SUMMARY:

In the “Russian Authorities and the ‘Jewish Riot’ of 1823-1824” Ol’ga Minkina provides an in-depth interpretive analysis of the investigation into the “Jewish disturbances” that took place in the Pale of Settlement in 1823-1824. The documents pertaining to this official investigation reveal characteristic features of Russian imperial discourse on Jews. The most important element of this discourse was the belief that Jews were ruled hierarchically. Investigators representing the imperial state heavily underestimated actual autonomy and authority enjoyed by each Kahal over its local Jewish community. Various manifestations of traditional Jewish culture were interpreted by the investigation as resulting from a conspiracy involving Jewish deputies in St. Petersburg, Kahals, Jewish religious leaders and prominent Jewish merchants. The article draws on a wide range of sources from the archives of St. Petersburg, Vilnius and Jerusalem.