About
A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of Hope comprise a collection of instruments that tell remarkable stories of the defiance, resilience, and legacy of Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, and of the Israeli violinmaker dedicated to bringing these inspirational Strings of the Holocaust back to life.
EXPERIENCE THE VIOLINS OF HOPE
A Stunning Exhibit of the Strings of the Holocaust
Plus two weeks of moving events throughout Northeast Indiana.
VIEW EVENTSViolin Stories
"As long as they had their violins, they still had hope." ~ Dr. James Grymes, Author, Violins of Hope
The AIPAC Violin
This violin belonged to Dr. Leon Schatzberg-Sawicki, born in 1918 in the town of Kolomyia, then part of Poland and now Ukraine. He graduated from the Lviv Conservatory in 1938 and studied medicine at Lviv University, graduating in May 1941.
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The Moshe Amiran Violin
This violin wasn’t made by hand, but rather by machine. Although it looks like an authentic instrument, it doesn’t produce any sound. This type of violin usually belonged to beggars who made believe they played, but actually sang the music.
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The Heil Hitler Violin
This instrument is presumed to have been owned by a Jewish musician or an amateur who, at some point, needed a minor repair job. The craftsman doing the repairs opened the violin for no apparent reason and inscribed on its upper deck the words “Heil Hitler, 1936,” alongside a swastika.
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Attend performances, exhibits, and activities throughout Fort Wayne
All events have concluded. Please click the link below to see what was previously available.