The community grouped around A. Perets had broken up but Jews still remained in St. Petersburg. New Jewish soldiers' communities emerged in the capital in the late 1820s.
Starting in 1828 Jews were conscripted into the Russian army. Jewish soldiers of the large garrison in St. Petersburg became lawful residents of the capital. Moreover, Jewish soldiers as well as all other ranks were allowed by law to live with their wives and children.
Jews were not admitted to the Guards (except non-combatant units). They served in army regiments, various auxiliary units, work teams, port crews, workshops etc. Most of the Jewish conscripts who served in the capital of the Russian Empire left few, if any, traces. Their names can only be found in the rosters of the regiments and auxiliary units in which they served.
Besides the soldiers' communities, Jewish civilians also lived in the city. Most often, Jews who were not connected with the army lived in St. Petersburg illegally or semi-illegally (temporarily). Jews were officially allowed to stay in the capital in connection with government supplies and contracts, cargo deliveries (a special hotel was even established for Jewish carriers), as well as for matters relating to judicial and administrative cases considered in the Senate and other higher institutions of the Empire.
Many of the Jewish soldiers were retired by 1855. Subsequently, Alexander II issued edicts granting them the right to reside throughout the Empire, including the capitals. These retired ranks were family men of middle age entitled to a small pension. They had to seek an income and many of them took up various handicrafts. Those who were not skilled in trades served in the police force and fire brigades.
A rather large Jewish population lived legally in St. Petersburg by the late 1850s.
During the reign of Nicholas I European Jewry tried to help their Russian coreligionists. A famous British banker, philanthropist and champion of Jewish interests, Sir Moses Montefiore, paid a special visit to Russia in 1846 with the aim of persuading the Russian government to improve the position of Jews. Although he was received with honor and even granted the "highest audience", his visit produced no practical results.