Charles Wyzanski’s Sunday School Paper on Zionism, 1919 (age 13)

I. Zionism is a worldwide movement of the Jews which aims at the establishment of Jewish state in Palestine; this state is to be the religious centre of the Jews and to be under the protection of the great powers.

II. (a) Zionism shall be furthered by American Jews, although not for their benefit – for their European brethren.

(b) The Jews should have a national home, just as the Catholics have Rome for their religious centre, where the leading men of the Jewish world may gather and debate on religious topics.

(c) Jews have no more claim than either the Mohamedans or the Christians, except by right of conquest, and if we acknowledge that claim why, then, is that not of any other foreign conqueror as good.

(d) Zionism should not be furthered by American Jews because:

1. Under the new plan all people will have equal rights in all countries and therefore the Jews would be no better off than before.

2. Jews will have as much protection in any country as in Palestine, because the League of Nations will have power to enforce justice.

3. Turks are as heathen as Russians as evinced by the Armenian Massacre and are no less hateful of Jewish ideals and traditions than Russians.

4. Most Jews have no desire to have the Holy Land as theirs and unless a new spirit awakes among the growing generation, the Jewish state will not have their support and therefore would not be lasting.

5. Same as given in (b).

III. Mohammed believed he was inspired by God to teach the Arabs a new religion. He claimed he was given by the prophet Gabriel some tablets which were inscribed with laws not at all unlike those of Jews and Christians. His teaching at last aroused anger and he fled from Mecca to Medina, where he spent forty years in exile. Koran (their Bible) or the “Sword,” gained a foothold by force on all Asia Minor and countries on the northern coast of the Mediterranean.

IV. The Jews when they obey the commands of God, are his chosen people, but that title is fitting to all who follow in his steps. At the time this slogan was given, the prophets were trying to instill into the hearts of their coreligionists the truth that those who worship the Lord and follow his teachings are chosen people, and receive favor in his eyes.

V. Prayer is no use unless it is used as a sacred part of one’s life. In order to derive any use from prayer you must help yourself and not request God to do all the work. You must really take to heart what you pray for and if you expect favor from the Lord, you must in turn follow his teaching in order to merit an answer to your prayers.