An international exhibit called Violins of Hope: Every Violin Has A Story is now on view in New York for the first time. The exhibit showcases a collection of violins and other string instruments that survived the Holocaust, all restored by Amnon and Avshalom (Avshi) Weinstein, an Israeli father-son duo of master violinmakers who lost over 400 of their own family in the Holocaust. These include the violin of a Jewish inmate member of the Auschwitz Orchestra; another that belonged to one of the last Jews to escape Nazi Europe; an instrument that a young Italian Jew clung to in a forced labor camp; and klezmer violins emblazoned with the Star of David. They now represent the sounds of defiance, resilience and faith.
In addition to the violins, you can see a powerful series of photographs by Daniel Levin that document the masterful restoration processes for these instruments.
The violins and photographs are on display at the Herbert & Eileen Bernard Museum at Temple Emanu-El on the Upper East Side through March 28. Museum hours are Sunday through Thursday, 10am–4pm.
