In 1859 the Russian Empire’s new policy for answering the “Jewish Question” makes an important development. The “merger” policy was supported by Jewish intellectuals and became a window of opportunity for tens of thousands of migrants. Migrant Jews had only one chance—personal integration into a society beyond the Strip of Settlement. However, migrants actually “brought” with them all social institutions typical of the traditional Jewish community. Between the Jewish population of Kharkiv and the local authorities there had been a certain model of relations which may be considered typical of the southern regions of the Russian Empire. The authorities and Jews mostly tried to avoid clashes. However, this in no way meant equal dialogue, and force was applied at will.