Beginning in 1996, the late Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshi developed a music and Holocaust education program, Violins of Hope, and in 2008, the pair began touring the Violins of Hope Project.
The program has toured throughout the world offering insight into Holocaust history using a language that is universal: Music.
In our state, these programs are made possible through the generosity of VoH-WVU, local musicians, and Barb Lewine, who organized these inspiring programs. Lewine is a Holocaust Education consultant for the West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education and an active member of the VoH-WVU Steering Committee. “The core mission of Violins of Hope is education about the Holocaust through beautifully restored violins. Highlighting the universal language of music and the strength that comes from Hope, each violin can symbolically be seen as an individual with a unique voice and a harrowing story to be told as it is played once again,” states Lewine.
Many of these instruments were played by victims of the Holocaust and donated by families who encouraged their restoration. This program gives communities an opportunity to connect with and honor the individuals who were once behind the instruments.
“This is another way of bringing remembrance and giving voice to those who can no longer be with us,” states Lewine. “We cannot wrap our heads around the 6 million victims of the Holocaust, but we can relate to a story about an individual and their violin.” Violins of Hope will be at Wheeling Park High School on Wednesday, October 9th, for middle school strings students and a number of groups representing Wheeling Park High School. Musical selections will feature WPHS strings teacher, Laura Grube, a number of her students, and other local string educators. Special guests Avshi Weinstein, visiting us from Israel, and James Grymes, professor from the University of North Carolina will be providing commentary based on Grymes’ book, Violins of Hope and their joint expertise.
In addition to WPHS, Violins of Hope will be at Temple Shalom on October 8th beginning at 7:00 P.M., West Liberty University on October 9th at 10:00 A.M., and the Ohio County Public Library on Wednesday, October 9th, beginning at 6:30 P.M.
All musical performances taking place in our community this week will be played on restored violins and a viola from the Violins of Hope collection.
