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violins laying on their side

Violins of Hope UK

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.

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.

Violins of Hope

Schedule of Events

Avshalom Weinstein holding 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
violin with star of david on front

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

Singletary Concert Hall
$20 Adults / $10 Students
FREE for UK Students

Sponsored in part by The Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass

Collection of Instruments

Click on the image to read the accompanying story about each instrument's history.

violin on its side

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.
violin with star of David etched in several locations

The Zimermann five Stars of David violin, Warsaw 1920s

Yaacov Zimermann worked in Warsaw and had many clients Jews and Christians.  He was known to support young violinists such as Michel Swalbe (see former violin) and Ida Haendel, the child prodigy who turned a world known virtuoso.

This hand-made violin is outstanding because it is unusually decorated by five Stars of David, four on the upper deck and one on the back.  The decorations were made with glue mixed with black powder, usually made to order. 

The violin was found in very bad condition.  The varnish was almost non-existent and it gave the impression of having been played most of the time in open air, rain and shine.  It was repaired meticulously for a year and a half and now serves as a concert instrument.

The Zimermann violin dated 1929, is a regular violin made by him for local clients 
photo of person standing playing violin with second person playing piano

The Moshe Weinstein violin, made by Johann Gottleb Ficker around 1803

This violin was a life-time friend of Moshe Weinstein, our first generation violin maker.  Born in a Shtetl in East Europe little Moishale fell in love with the sound of the violin. It happened when a klezmer troupe arrived in the shtetl to play at a rich man's wedding.  While all children gathered under the table to hide and steal sweets, Moishale was hypnotized by the sound of music.  After a few festive days the troupe left and so did Moishale who followed the klezmers out of town. His mother, Ester, looked for the boy to no avail. 

Well, when he was found and dragged back home, he was first punished and then – got a very simple violin!  This was a turning point in our family history.  Moishale learnt to play by himself and later studied in the music academy in Vilna, where he met Golda, a pianist, and both immigrated to Palestine in 1938.

Before leaving Europe, Moshe Weinstein went to Warsaw to study with Yaacov Zimermann to repair string instruments.  Since most Jews play violins, thought Moshe, they would need a violin maker in the new land.  He first worked in an orchard picking oranges and a year later opened a violin shop in Tel Aviv. 

Loyal to the tradition of helping out young prodigy kids making their first steps in music, he supported many Israeli talented children among them – Shlomo Mintz, Pinchas Zukerman, Yitzhak Perlman and many others. 
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.
Back of violin with star of David in middle

Klezmer violin with a star of David on the back

Dedicated to all klezmers playing in Eastern Europe. The lion's head was meant to entertain children.
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