New Jewish communities appeared in the capital in the late 1820s. They were soldiers of the community. From 1828 Jews began to call in the Russian army. In the 1830s a decree was ssued allowing Jews of the lower ranks to practice their religion in their free time. A chapel was established in an apartment near the barracks. First rabbis of small, scattered Jewish communities in St. Petersburg were soldiers. By 1855, many Jewish soldiers resigned. Later by decree of Alexander II, they were granted the right to stay in the Russian empire, including the capital. Those who did not have a craft went on to serve in the city police and fire departments. In 1859, the first official city assistant rabbi was appointed a retired soldier - policeman Iossel Ioff.