He could not attend daily services at the synagogue; his private devotions were disturbed by the jeers and insults of his coarse Gentile comrades.

He might resort to all sorts of tricks and shams, still he was obliged to violate Jewish law.

When he returned home, at the end of his term of service, he could not rid himself of the stigma of those enforced sins.

For four years he had led the life of a Gentile.
Piety alone was enough to make the Jews dread military service, but there were other things that made it a serious burden.

Most men of twenty-one--the age of conscription--were already married and had children.