Violins of Hope: Violins of the Holocaust–Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind’s Darkest Hour
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(as of May 05, 2025 01:57:21 UTC – Details)
Winner of a National Jewish Book Award
A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of Hope tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, and the Israeli violin maker dedicated to bringing these inspirational instruments back to life.
The violin has formed an important aspect of Jewish culture for centuries, both as a popular instrument with classical Jewish musicians and as a central factor of social life, as in the Klezmer tradition. But during the Holocaust, the violin assumed extraordinary roles within the Jewish community. For some musicians, the instrument was a liberator; for others, it was a savior that spared their lives. For many, the violin provided comfort in mankind’s darkest hour, and, in at least one case, helped avenge murdered family members. Above all, the violins of the Holocaust represented strength and optimism for the future.
Today, these instruments serve as powerful reminders of an unimaginable experience–they are memorials to those who perished and testaments to those who survived. In this spirit, renowned Israeli violinmaker Amnon Weinstein has devoted the past twenty years to restoring the violins of the Holocaust as a tribute to those who were lost, including four hundred of his own relatives. Behind each of these violins is a uniquely fascinating and inspiring story. Juxtaposing these narratives against one man’s harrowing struggle to reconcile his own family’s history and the history of his people, this insightful, moving, and achingly human book presents a new way of understanding the Holocaust.
Publisher : Harper Perennial (August 12, 2014)
Language : English
Paperback : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 0062246836
ISBN-13 : 978-0062246837
Item Weight : 8.8 ounces
Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.76 x 8 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book fascinating and engaging, with one noting it should be read by every musician. Moreover, the book provides interesting historical insights from survivors’ perspectives, and one customer describes it as a powerful description of the curative influence of music. Additionally, the story quality receives positive feedback, with one review highlighting how violins filled emotional voids during the Holocaust era.
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