The Denver Jewish news., 1925-08-06
The Jewish Education of
William Jennings Bryan
A Touching Intimate Narrative of the Friendship Be-
tween the Great "COmmOner" and Joseph Zeff, the
Zionist PrOpagandist Who Died Several Years Ago


tnrians. ZEN, the highly gifted orator
was best fitted TO judge the unusual
oratorical power Of the silvertongued
Bryan. And Bryan. who later heard
Zen speak at various political Assem-.
blageS, became enthusiastic about the
Zionist leaders speaking ability, look
Ing upon him as n magician OF words.
an orator-artist, who had the undoubt-
ed power 10 sway the masses, to rouse
their emotions. and to play upon their
hearf-Strings MS the yirtuOso plays up
on his Stradivarlus. In this respect,
certainly Bryan and Zen were alike.
Ief would often remark about his
friend: Bryan is the greatest orator
of olir time. Too bad that he
is't n Jewish leader. He would have
been able. better than any other. to
have aroused the Jewish masses. -
Ieff's Intelligent analysis Of cOntem-
porary political and social problems
made n deep impression upon Iryan.
Leff was undoubtedly more learned and
cultured than Bryan; his acquajntance
with history. philosophy, sociology and
economics was far more thorough gcing
than Bryan's. Xeff'S interest IN his
people and in Iionism colored all his
IDEAS however. His aspirations for
humanity centered largely In the re-
habilitation of Israel.
To Bryan. whose knowledge was in
reality superficial acquaintance with
learning, more intuitive than EN-
pirical, Zeff was gold-nine OF infor-
nation. and many were the times that
Bryan came to the Jew to listen at
tentively to an exposition Of hidden
facts, a re?elatiOn Of unknown Incl
dents. Bryan was known TO have de-
rived gre,t delight from the clever
Jews brilliant paradOxes.
Foremost, however. ZeR was an In
comparable source Of information to
Bryan about matters Jewish. The great
Commoner was greatly Interested in
Jews, their situation and their prob
lens His knowledge of them. never
theless. was limited as the average
Americans. whose life is spent in cities
whose Jewish population is compare
lively meagre. and where the Jewish
question Is never pressing one. ZEN
was the first Jew to bring Bryan's at
tention to the pressing problems of the
Jew the world over. After time,
Bryan had n greater knowledge Of
European Jewish conditions, probably,
than any other American statesman.
He was made privy to Jewish strivings
and hopes. and-thanks to Zeff-Bryan
was indubitably the first prominent
American to have any intimacy with
the Zionist movement, before the Bal
four Declaration threw Palestine into
the ring of international politics.
A prominent Zionist tells of meeting
Xeff one day, loaded down by batch
of newspapers. Upon inquiry, it de-
veoped that Zeff was on his way to
Bryan. who happened to be at Del
monico's at that hour; the unwilling
Zionist was dragged along.
Lets both go to him now. Well
have little talk about Zionlsm with
him 1t won't hurt =. 1t might be
Of some value. -. have talked to him
quite often about the subject, but II
won't hurt to discuss the matter a
| little more
When they came to Delmonico's. the
ante-room to Bryan was crowded with
all sorts OF political persOnages, eager
! to secure an interview with the noted
leader. But as soon as Zef's name
was announced Bryan ordered the in
trepid jew to come in, forgetting III,
assemblage of politicians, who hat
been waiting for long time for 9
word or two. Immediately, ZEN begar
discussing his favorite topics: Pales
tine, Zionism, Jewish aspirations, ant
what the Christian attitude towart
these hopes should be.
In the midst of the discussion, Zef
turned the subject to religion, which
resulted in one of the most tempestuou!
sessions the two ever had. Their i'm
paSsioned voices could be heard in th'
ante-room and the gentlemen waitini
We're wondering what the subject o
such fiery discussion could be. The!
did not know, of course, that Ieff wa
attacking certain portions of the Ney
Testament, and that Bryan, the plou
Christian. was being assailed on hi
most sensitive topic. The discussion
MS usual. ended amicably, and thei
parting was quite affectionate.
One of the most interesting episode
in the relations between Bryan an
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