Solomon Grayzel Papers

Solomon Grayzel (1896–1980) was a distinguished rabbi, historian, educator, and editor whose career helped shape modern Jewish scholarship and public Jewish life in Philadelphia and far beyond. He taught Jewish history and philosophy at Gratz College, became a pioneering scholar of Jewish-Christian relations through his groundbreaking research in Vatican archives, and was a gifted public intellectual whose works, including A History of the Jews, introduced generations of readers to Jewish history.

The Grayzel Digital Platform bears his name in that same spirit: to expand access to Jewish history and bring dispersed materials into conversation for scholars, students, and the public. The Papers of Solomon Grayzel is an evolving digital collection that seeks to unite three major parts of his documentary legacy: his personal papers at the Jewish Theological Seminary Library, the organizational records of the Jewish Publication Society, where he served as editor-in-chief from 1939 to 1966, and more than 100 op-eds published in the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. The first phase of this work begins with a new partnership between Gratz College and the Jewish Theological Seminary Library to digitize Grayzel’s personal papers. This collection page marks the launch of that effort; the archival materials themselves will be added on a rolling basis and are coming soon.

"Books, Bible, and Modern Man"

Solomon Grayzel speaks to Adath Israel Congregation formerly of Trenton, NJ on December 5, 1961.