For Jewish people during World War II, the violin was more than an instrument it was a beacon of hope, a source of work and a savior. Violins that Jews played in Europe throughout the Holocaust are on display at the traveling Violins of Hope exhibit in Carnegie Mellon University’s Posner Center through Nov..
Bethel Park High School teachers Leigh Totty and Chelsea Casagranda incorporate the study of the Holocaust in their curriculums. “Learning about the Holocaust is an integral part of understanding humanity, understanding history, and the challenges facing our world today,” said Totty. A part of that history will be heard as
Encased in glass, each violin represent a heart-breaking story. Jewish musicians played these instruments in concentration camps and ghettos during the Holocaust for survival, resistance or comfort. Some were hidden away only to be discovered many years later. More than 100 violins have been rescued and restored by violin makers
After World War II, Palestine Symphony Orchestra musicians who wanted nothing to do with their German-made instruments offered Moshe Weinstein an ultimatum. Weinstein had trained as a violinist …