Herzl Yankl Tsam

Who was Herzl Yankl Tsam?

Herzl Yankl Tsam was a Jewish cantonist in the Russian Empire. Tsam appears to have been the only Jewish officer in the Tsarist army in the 19th century who rose beyond the rank of a captain.

Drafted as a 17-year-old Cantonist, Tsam served in Tomsk, Siberia. Tsam became an officer in 1873 and, after forty-one years of service, he was retired with a rank and pension of colonel. The promotion was granted on the day of his retirement, so he would have the pension, but wouldn't be able to serve as a colonel. An able commander and administrator, he turned one of the worst companies of his regiment into one of the best. In spite of pressures, he never converted to the state religion of Russian Orthodox Christianity.

After retirement, Tsam took an active part in the Jewish community of Tomsk.