In the 1800’s the Tsar put a draft of 25 years on the Jews, Rather than being an individual draft, it was on the community, they community got to choose who was sent to the army. These jews who went were called Cantonists and were obviously lost.
What actually happend in each town, the rich of the town would bribe their way out of their sons going and the Rabbis of the town would also get their sons out of the draft.
In the end it was usually the Orphans and the poor would were actually drafted as they did not have the money or connections to avoid being drafted.
The haskallah and other things were a result of this draft and those who did not serve.