The Violins of Hope: Strings of the Holocaust traveling exhibit opens Friday at the University of Tennessee's downtown gallery on Gay Street.
The exhibit features dozens of violins that were played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. Each instrument tells a story of suffering, resilience, and survival.
Avshi Weinstein and his father founded Violins of Hope. They've spent several years restoring violins to give them a voice once again.
30 of the restored instruments will be played by members of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in a special concert scheduled for Jan. 23 and 24 at the Tennessee Theatre.
Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School is responsible for bringing the exhibit to East Tennessee.
“Violins of Hope is an extraordinarily meaningful program that inspires and educates people of all ages and walks of life,” said Miriam Esther Wilhelm, head of the Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School. “The Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School is thrilled to have the opportunity to share these violins with the community as they tell the story of a tragic time in history and what we can learn from it in a unique and impactful way.”
