Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to some frequently asked questions about conducting a search at The Bernhard H. and Miriam Oster Visual Documentation Center at Beth Hatefutsoth:

1. Can your image database be accessed via the Internet?
2. Do you have a printed catalogue of the Photo Archive?
3. What kind of images do you have?
4. Does your archive also include documents?
5. Can we purchase images from your Photo Archive?
6. How can we obtain permission to reproduce your images in a book/film?
7. We are currently producing a book/film and would like to know whether you have in your archive images relevant to our subject.
8. Can we purchase scanned images?

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

1. Can your image database be accessed via the Internet?

The Photo Archive of the Bernard H. and Miriam Oster Visual Documentation Center holds, among others, images from the Permanent Exhibition and from the Changing Exhibitions display at Beth Hatefutsoth since it opened in 1978. As the copyrights for part of these images belong to others, we are not allowed to post them on the website of the Museum. However, all our images can be viewed at the Visual Documentation Center. Visits are by appointment only.

2. Do you have a printed catalogue of the Photo Archive?

The Photo Archive of Beth Hatefutsoth has a computerized database of some 60,000 images (to date). There is a constant “flow” of new material, and all images are retrievable via the computer system that replaces the need for a printed catalogue.

3. What kind of images do you have?

Documenting Jewish life in the Diaspora in its entire aspects is the main mission of the Visual Documentation Center. Images of our collections portray this Jewish life, including immigration to Israel throughout history.

4. Does your archive include documents too?

Being mainly a Photo Archive the Visual Documentation Center does not collect documents. However, its collections include photos of various documents relating to subjects of relevance to Jewish life.

5. Can we purchase images from your Photo Archive?

You can purchase images from our collections. Please fill in the Visual Documentation - ORDER FORM on our website and send it to us. You may also send a request by fax to: 972-03-7457831.

6. How can we obtain permission to reproduce your images in a book/film?

If you wish to request permission to reproduce images from our collections, please send us the respective images by e-mail with their captions or any reference number you may have. Please state the purpose for which you need to reproduce the image(s). If Beth Hatefutsoth holds the copyrights, we shall let you know whether permission is granted. However, if others hold the copyrights, we will refer you to the respective copyright holders, including their address and contact details.

7. We are currently producing a book/film and would like to know whether you have in your archive images relevant to our subject.

Please send us a list of the subjects relevant to your book/film/other uses, and try to be specific about time and place. Upon receiving your requirements we will send you either a computer printout listing the relevant images, image printouts or low resolution (reference) scans of these images. These services are rendered against payment that will be specified in the particular correspondence. If you prefer receiving a computerized list at first, please mention your fax number and mail address.

8. Can we purchase scanned images?

If you wish to order high resolution scans for reproduction purposes, please state the specific requirements you need:

• Size of final picture in cm. or as A3/A4/A5. sizes.
• Technique of scanning: CMYK, Greyscale, RGB.
• The format of file - tiff, jpg, etc.
• Type of computer - PC / MAC

High-resolution scans will be delivered on CD-Rom, by e-mail or as FTP files to be downloadable from the website of the Museum, subject to the size and/or format of the files.

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