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Violins of Hope is a collection of more than 70 historic violins, violas, and cellos that survived the Holocaust, played by musicians in ghettos, concentration camps, and as symbols of resistance. These instruments have been restored by violin-makers Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein, owners of the collection. For one week in February 2026, Avshalom Weinstein and these instruments will visit Lexington, Kentucky, for a series of educational and cultural offerings on the University of Kentucky campus and in the greater Lexington community, culminating in a concert by the University Symphony Orchestra which will feature students playing many of the instruments.

We invite you to read the stories of perseverance, view these stirring symbols of hope, and listen to our student musicians perform music to inspire us all.

Violins of Hope University of Kentucky is sponsored in part by the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass

The sound of violins is often compared to the beauty of the human voice. When played with talent and spirit, It is known to reach out and touch hearts. This was the role of violins in the war – to touch hearts, kindle hope for better times and spread it around. Wherever there was music, there was hope.

What is Violins of Hope?

Violins of Hope is a project of concerts based on a private collection of violins, violas and cellos, all collected since the end of World War 2. This extraordinary collection of instruments and their stories has captivated audiences worldwide, gracing venues from Cleveland's Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage to the legendary Berlin Philharmonic in Germany.

Learn More about Violins of Hope

Schedule of Events

Avshi and Amnon Weinstein with restored violins

Violins of Hope Film: Amnon's Journey

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Kentucky Theatre
Ticketed
Avshi Weinstein holds a restored violin

Violins of Hope Lecture

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Singletary Recital Hall
Free
violins laying on their side

Violins of Hope Exhibition

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Singletary Center President's Room
Free
Avshi Weinstein holds a restored violin

Violins of Hope Pre-Concert Lecture

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Singletary Recital Hall
Free
violins laying on their side

UK Symphony Orchestra Violins of Hope: Blue Cathedral and Mahler Symphony No. 4

Singletary Concert Hall
$20 Adults / $10 Students

Sponsored in part by The Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass

Collection of Instruments

Select Instruments in the Collection

Click on the image to read the story behind the instrument.

Shimon Krongold with violin

The Zimermann-Krongold violin, Warsaw, 1924

Yaacov Zimermann was one of the first Jewish violin makers in Warsaw. Shimon Krongold was a wealthy industrialist there and an amateur violinist, who ordered a violin made by Zimermann. Zimermann made him a fine instrument with a lovely Star of David inlaid on the back. Inside the violin he glued a label in Yiddish:

I made this violin for my loyal friend Shimon Krongold, Yaacov Zimermann, Warsaw, 1924.

When war broke in 1939 Shimon managed to escape to Russia and ended up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where he died of typhus towards the end of the war. A few years later a survivor from Tashkent came to the Krongold family in Jerusalem with the story of his death and a violin in hand. Shimon was the uncle of the Krongolds in Jerusalem, who paid for the violin and kept it in memory of their uncle.

It is important to note that before the war Shimon Krongold helped some Jewish prodigal children, among them Michel Swalbe, who used to get music lessons in Krongold's home. Swalbe later became the leading violinist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and remembered Krongold as his benefactor.

Shimon Krongold at his music room, Warsaw.

front of violin

The Feivel Wininger violin made by Brother Placht workshop in Schonbach, Germany around 1880

Feivel Wininger lived in Romania with his elderly parents, wife and baby daughter, Helen. In October 1941 Feivel and thousands other Jews were deported by train to the swamp land of Transnistria and further into the Ukrain. The suffering and horrors of this exodus was harsh, but Feivel never gave up. 

Finally, in the Ukrainian ghetto of Shargorod, he found a way to survive. A famous judge who was an amateur violinist recognized Feivel as the gifted child-violinist he was years ago and gave him his Italian, Amati violin.  Feivel, who labored chopping wood for local Ukrainians tried the violin and his life changed. All of a sudden there was music. And hope.

A local Ukrainian peasant let him play at weddings and holidays in exchange of food and leftovers. Feivel lost his precious violin a short while later, but found a way to bring food to his family and some 17 people playing Ukrainian and Romanian music on another violin. 

Many years later, in Israel, Helen brought her father's violin to be repaired in the Weinstein's workshop in Tel Aviv, so her old father could play again. Upon hearing this incredible story, the Weinsteins repaired the violin and since then, it is a part of Violins of Hope and serves as a memorial to a man of courage and industry, a man of vision and kindness.

Credit: Violins of Hope

close up of violin

The Auschwitz violin, made in the workshop of Schweitzer in Germany, around 1850.

This instrument was originally owned by an inmate who played in the men orchestra at the concentration camp in Auschwitz. And survived.

Abraham Davidowitz, who fled Poland to Russia in 1939, later returned to post-war Germany and worked for the Joint near Munich, Germany, helping displaced Jews living in DP (Displaced People) camps.

One day a sad man approached Abraham and offered him his violin, as he had no money at all.  Abraham paid 50 $ for the violin, hoping that his little son, Freddy, will play it when he grows up.

Many years later Freddy heard about the Violins of Hope project of the Weinsteins and donated his instruments to be fully restored and come back to life. Since then this violin, now restored to perfect condition, has been played in concerts by the best musicians all over the world. Almost.

It is important to note that such instruments were very popular by Jews in Eastern Europe, as they were relatively cheap and made for amateurs. This particular violin was made in Saxony or Tirol in a German workshop. It carries a false label: J.B. Schweitzer, who was a famous maker in his day.

Credit: Violins of Hope

historic violin

The Morpurgo violin: a refugee violin.

A few years ago a 90-something years old lovely lady and her three daughters came to our workshop in Tel Aviv. Seniora Morpurgo and her daughters brought us the much treasured violin of Gualtiero Morpurgo, the head of the family from Milan, Italy.

The Morpurgos are an ancient and respected Jewish family. They go back some 500 years in the north of Italy. When still a young child, Gualtiero'smotherhanded him a violin:

"You may not become a famous violinist, but the music will help you in desperate moments of life, and will widen your horizons. Do not give up, sooner or later it will prove me right".

That moment arrived without warning. Gualtiero's motherwas forced to board the first train, wagon 06 at the Central Station in Milan. Destination: Auschwitz. Her son, Gualtiero was sent to a forced labor camp and loyal to his mother – took the violin along and often found hope and strength while playing Bach's Partitas with frozen fingers after a long day's work in harsh conditions.

Born in Ancona, Gualtiero graduated engineering school and worked in the shipyards of Genoa. When the war ended he volunteered to use his engineering skills to build and set up ships for Aliya Bet, helping survivors of the war sail illegally to Palestine. For this he was awarded in 1992 the Medal of Jerusalem by Yitzhak Rabin.

Gualtiero never stopped playing. He was 97 when he could play no more and put his life-long companion in its case. After his death in 2012 his widow and three daughters attended the Violins of Hope concert in Rome and decided that this is where it belongs – in the hands of devoted musicians in fine concert halls.

Credit: Violins of Hope

Jacob Haakert

Jacob Hakkert violin, Mirecourt, France 1906.

This is the first hand-made violin by a famous Dutch Jewish maker, Jacob Hakkert, who studied in the violin makers' school in Mirecourt, in the north of France. He joined the family business shop in Rotterdam, Holland, around 1910. Hakkert was an active maker who made violins, violas and cellos. He was also had a reputation for developing and selling good quality strings which were popular among many musicians.

Hakkert was deported to Auschwitz where he died on May 22, 1944.

Credit: Violins of Hope

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School of Music

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