The article is devoted to the history of the formation and features of the functioning of Jewish religious institutions outside the Pale of Settlement in the second half of the XIXth - early XXth centuries. The study is based on the materials of the Kuban and Terek regions, which had a somewhat different administrative and political structure from most other regions. Historically, the peculiarities of these areas influenced the policy of the authorities in towards the Jews, which influenced the activities of rabbis and synagogues. Despite the fact that the activities of rabbis and synagogues were constantly interrupted due to a number of external circumstances, members of local Jewish societies actively engaged in dialogue with the authorities and sought to revive religious buildings to life. Even small communities of Kuban and Terek tried to support their religious institutions and preserve the traditions of Judaism.