The story takes place in nineteenth century Imperial Russia. A young Jewish boy is kidnapped and impressed into a decade of servitude before he is inducted into the army. Through all the challenges he faces before and after returning to his home he keeps his vow to hold true to his Jewish faith. Through years of love and loss, war and peace, and final exile he remains unbowed and triumphant at the demise of the hated Tsarist regime that caused him and his fellow Jews so much pain.