Both fine, high-quality instruments belonged to members of the Palestine Orchestra created in 1936 by Bronislav Hubermann. They tell the story and history of the musicians who after 1948 became the IPO (Israel Philharmonic Orchestra), (as told previously).
Most members of the IPO were first rate musicians in European orchestras, but lost their positions when the Nazis came to power in 1933 and racial laws were enforced in Germany. When the war ended, there was a general boycott of German goods in Israel. So much so that the name “Germany” was boycotted on the radio.
In this atmosphere, musicians refused to play on German made instruments and many came to Moshe Weinstein and asked him to buy their violins. “If you don’t buy my violin I’ll break it,” said some. Others threatened to burn their instruments. Weinstein bought each and every instrument, as for him—a violin was above war and evil. Yet, he knew he would never be able to sell them.
After 50 years, those silent violins have come back to life. Those two extraordinary instruments can now be heard in concerts of “Violins of Hope.”
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