Violins of Hope is a collection of over 70 instruments that were played by Jewish Musicians in camps and ghettos. They were collected in battered, beaten condition and later restored to top quality. In recent years they have been played by top violinists throughout the world. Each one carrying a unique story.

Sunday, March 8th @ 2pm

Film Screening The Return of the Violin

We will be screening the uplifting The Return of the Violin a film about a 1731 Stradivarius violin, once owned by Bronislaw Huberman, the founder of the Palestine Symphony, which later became the Israel Philharmonic. Stolen in 1936, it was rediscovered in 1985: American virtuoso Joshua Bell purchased it in 2001, treasures it and does not part from it.

The film directed by Haim Hecht, tells the story of survival, the violins thefts and recovery and Huberman’s role in saving Jewish musicians during the Holocaust and founding the Palestine Symphony.

Followed by a Live Violin Recital

After the screening, we will be treated to a recital by Jonathan Rubin who has performed extensively at Jewish and Israeli events throughout Southern California and beyond. Most recently, he had the rare honor of playing the violin of Holocaust survivor and composer Shony Alex Braun during the Long Beach run of The Violin Maker, the acclaimed production about the Violins of Hope and the life’s work of Israeli master luthier, Amnon Weinstein.

The program will close with Hatikvah.

Event Moderated by Holocaust Child Survivor, Susanne M Reyto