How to Use the Grayzel Digital Platform

Now that you're here, what are you going to do?

Whether you're a researcher, educator, student, or curious learner, Grayzel offers open access to thousands of digitized items—from letters and photographs to oral histories and annotated texts.

Basic Search

Start with the search bar at the top of the homepage. Enter keywords like:

• “Elie Wiesel”
• “Jewish education”
• “Yiddish poetry”

This will return results across all collections.

Refining Your Search with Filters

Use the facets on the left-hand side of the results page to narrow your search:

• Collection (e.g., Elie Wiesel Digital Archive)
• Format (e.g., letter, photograph, audio)
• Date Range
• Language
• Subject Tags

These filters help you pinpoint exactly what you need.

Advanced Search Tips

• Use quotation marks for exact phrases: "Jewish education"
• Use Boolean operators:
  • AND to combine terms: Wiesel AND Holocaust
  • OR to broaden: Yiddish OR Hebrew
  • NOT to exclude: Wiesel NOT Nobel
• Combine filters for precise results, like:
  • Format: “Letter”
  • Date: “1945–1950”
  • Language: “French”

Accessibility Features

• The site is designed to be screen-reader friendly.
• Text contrast and font sizes meet WCAG 2.1 standards.
• Keyboard navigation is supported throughout.
• Alt text is included for images and media.
• Captions and transcripts are being created for audio content.

What You Might Find

• Personal papers of Jewish scholars and activists
• Holocaust oral histories
• Rare correspondence and manuscripts
• Educational materials and annotated texts