Motele Schlein, a 12-year-old Jewish boy, became an unlikely hero of the resistance during World War II. After escaping the massacre of his family, he joined the Jewish partisans and used his violin as both a musical instrument and a weapon. Playing in a Nazi-frequented restaurant, Motele secretly smuggled explosives in his violin case, planting dynamite to destroy the building and its occupants. His violin, now preserved as a symbol of bravery and resistance, continues to tell his incredible story of courage. Lean More...

Crafted by Yaacov Zimermann for his close friend Shimon Krongold, this violin holds a significant place in Jewish history. The violin’s back features an inlaid Star of David, symbolizing resilience and friendship. Its journey from war-torn Warsaw to Jerusalem, surviving the Holocaust, is a testimony to hope. It continues to be played in remembrance of Krongold’s legacy and his contribution to nurturing Jewish musical talent. Lean More...

Hidden by a Christian family during the Holocaust, this violin was safeguarded for 74 years after its Jewish owners were deported and killed. Donated to the Violins of Hope, it now serves as a tribute to those who risked their lives to protect Jewish culture. Lean More...

Made by Johann Gottlieb Ficker, this violin was a lifelong companion of Moshe Weinstein, a celebrated violin maker who immigrated to Palestine. Weinstein, who played an essential role in supporting talented Jewish violinists like Shlomo Mintz and Yitzhak Perlman, kept this instrument close throughout his life. It remains a symbol of his dedication to music and his efforts to preserve Jewish culture. Lean More...

Created in the Brother Placht workshop in Germany, this violin is emblematic of Feivel Wininger’s resilience. During the Holocaust, Feivel played this violin in exchange for food, keeping hope alive for his family and 17 others. Despite the loss of his treasured Amati violin, this instrument helped him survive through music. Lean More...

This Schweitzer violin, made in Germany, was once played in the men’s orchestra at Auschwitz, a camp where music was often a grim juxtaposition to the horrors surrounding it. Surviving the concentration camps, this violin serves as a poignant reminder of the power of music even in the darkest times. Lean More...

This violin, adorned with a mother-of-pearl Star of David, honors the Bielski partisans who rescued over 1,200 Jews during World War II. Made in Germany, the violin not only celebrates klezmer music but also the courage and defiance of those who fought against oppression. Lean More...

Sandor Fisher, a survivor of the Auschwitz and labor camps, played this violin to entertain his fellow prisoners and smuggle food for his friends. After escaping and joining the Soviets, he continued playing, even after settling in Israel post-war. His violin stands as a symbol of endurance and triumph through music. Lean More...

Made by August Darte, this French violin belonged to Zvi Haftel, the first concertmaster of the Palestine Orchestra. Recruited by Bronislav Hubermann, Haftel’s violin played a key role in the establishment of an all-Jewish orchestra, which evolved into today’s Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Lean More...

Gualtiero Morpurgo took this violin with him as he was deported to a forced labor camp during World War II. Playing Bach’s Partitas on frozen fingers, the violin became his source of hope and strength in unimaginable conditions. After the war, it accompanied him throughout his life, representing resilience and the enduring power of music. Lean More...

Abram Merczynski brought this violin through Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps, playing wherever he was sent. After surviving these camps, Abram gifted the violin to a German family who kept it safe until it was donated to the Violins of Hope project. This violin now represents friendship and survival against all odds. Lean More...

This violin, once owned by a Gypsy musician, survived multiple Nazi attacks on the communist youth orchestra in pre-World War II Berlin. It now serves as a symbol of both Jewish and Romani resilience and is featured in concerts worldwide. Lean More...

Crafted in the Schweitzer workshop, this violin traveled with Erich Weininger through Nazi-occupied Austria and the horrors of Dachau and Buchenwald. Despite being forbidden to play, Erich carried the violin through unimaginable hardship, and it now stands as a symbol of resistance and survival. Lean More...

This violin belonged to two sisters separated from their parents during World War II. Reunited after the war in Israel, the sisters discovered their violin, which had been preserved as a cherished memory of their lost family and a symbol of survival. Lean More...

Donated to honor the victims of the pogroms in Poland, this violin carries the memory of the Jedwabne massacre, where Jewish villagers were burned alive in a barn by their neighbors. It represents the atrocities faced by the Jewish people and serves as a reminder of their strength. Lean More...