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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250320T200000
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SUMMARY:Violins of Hope
DESCRIPTION:Hear the Past. Listen to the Future.\n\nViolins of Hope: A Concert\nONLINE TICKETS SOLD OUT | Limited Walk-Up Tickets Available \nMarch 20\, 2025 | 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | The Palladium Theatre\nConcert presented by The Florida Holocaust Museum\, featuring Musicians of The Florida Orchestra \nExperience an evening where music and history intertwine\, sharing the stories of Holocaust-era violins\, violas\, and cellos that survived concentration camps. Restored by Israeli violinmakers Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein\, these instruments once offered solace in unimaginable darkness\, sometimes saving lives. Led by TFO’s principal cellist Yoni Draiblate\, the concert features a double string quartet playing these historical instruments. \nJoin us for this profound evening of beauty\, remembrance and solidarity. \n$32 Members of The FHM & The Florida Orchestra\n$40 Not-Yet Members \n Reserve Your Seat Today\nThank You to Our Partners!\nConcerto Sponsors: Barry & Judith Alpert and Family\, Adam & Stephanie Stanfield\, Caroline & Darrell Langstaff\, Fagl Oxman\nMedia Sponsor: WUSF\nPartner Organizations: The Florida Orchestra\, The Palladium Theater \nQUESTIONS?\nContact 727.820.0100 or PublicPrograms@thefhm.org. \n\nPrelude to Hope: A VIP Experience\nBecome a sponsor of this unforgettable evening celebrating resilience\, remembrance\, and the unyielding power of music. As a Violins of Hope VIP\, you will take part in a memorable event during our intimate Prelude to Hope pre-reception. \n Learn More    Sponsor Today\nDuring the Prelude to Hope\, you’ll immerse yourself in the history behind these extraordinary Holocaust-era instruments in this exclusive pre-show gathering. Talk with Avshalom Weinstein\, one of the violin makers\, over light hors d’oeuvres and drinks to learn their stories\, and maybe try out a note or two. Engage with key figures from The Florida Holocaust Museum and The Florida Orchestra\, who will share behind-the-scenes perspectives on this extraordinary collaboration. \nBecome a VIP Sponsor Today!\nContact Adam Stanfield at 727.820.0100 or astanfield@thefhm.org or select your VIP level by clicking the “Sponsor Today” button. \n\nThe Violins’ Stories\nEach violin in the Violins of Hope collection has a unique and meaningful story. Here are some of them … \n\nAsher 98\n\n \nHana (Neti) De Leo’s violin journeyed with her through war\, loss\, and survival. Born in Arnhem\, Holland\, Hana grew up in a Zionist home with her parents and eight siblings. As a teenager\, she joined an Orthodox youth movement and met her future husband\, Naftali (Harry Asher). \nIn 1939\, Hana visited her sister in Palestine\, but when she and Naftali planned to immigrate together a year later\, the German invasion of Holland trapped them. Married in 1941\, they moved to Amsterdam\, where Hana cared for Jewish children while Naftali helped them find refuge with Dutch farmers. Their efforts connected them with Yoop Westerville\, a Christian school headmaster who formed a resistance network to protect Jewish children. \nAs Nazi persecution intensified\, Hana and Naftali went into hiding under false identities. Hana\, pregnant\, found sanctuary in a convent\, where she gave birth to their daughter\, Tinka\, in 1943. For safety\, she entrusted Tinka to a Dutch family while she continued moving between hiding places\, at times sleeping in pigsties. Meanwhile\, Naftali worked with the underground\, relocating children to safer shelters. After months of evading capture\, Hana hid in a specially built attic closet until Holland’s liberation in April 1945. Reunited with Naftali and Tinka\, they searched for survivors\, including Naftali’s orphaned nieces\, before leaving for Palestine in 1946 with their growing family and a group of war orphans. \nIn Palestine\, they settled in Kibbutz Yavne\, raising four children and dedicating their lives to rebuilding. Music had always been Hana’s passion\, yet her cherished violin was set aside in a forgotten corner. Now\, it has been restored\, carrying with it the echoes of courage\, loss\, and survival—a testament to a life shaped by both hardship and hope. \n\n\nMontgomery 105\n\n \nHenrik Unger’s life was intertwined with music\, his violin a constant companion through every chapter. A graduate of the Krakow Music Academy\, he was a gifted violinist\, conductor\, and multi-instrumentalist who never parted from his beloved instrument. In 1935\, he and his wife immigrated to Palestine\, where life was difficult\, and he took on manual labor to support his family. \nStill\, music remained at his core—teaching violin in exchange for meals\, playing in cafés and weddings\, and bringing joy to neighbors with afternoon performances. When Bronisław Huberman invited him to join the Palestine Orchestra without salary\, Henrik declined\, prioritizing his family’s needs over prestige\, yet he never stopped playing. \nWith the outbreak of World War II\, Henrik joined the British Army as an officer\, his fluency in 11 languages earning him the role of personal translator to Field Marshal Montgomery. Stationed in Cairo\, he served in major battles across the Middle East\, including Benghazi\, Tobruk\, and El Alamein. Even amidst the war\, his violin was ever-present\, filling army camps and cafés with music. \nAfter the war\, he worked for a British company and later\, following Israel’s independence\, for the electric company\, but his passion for music never waned. Weddings\, cafés\, and Saturday morning concerts at home became the backdrop of family life\, with afternoons spent playing trumpet in the Ramat Gan fire brigade orchestra. \nHenrik’s violin was more than an instrument—it was his voice\, his solace\, his closest friend. After his passing\, the family entrusted it to the Weinstein family to become part of the Violins of Hope collection\, ensuring that his music and legacy would continue to resonate for generations to come. \n\n\nLanier 77\n\n \nSeventy-four years after the end of World War II\, Gerard Lanier embarked on an extraordinary journey to honor his father’s legacy.\nRoger Lanier\, a policeman under the Vichy regime\, used his position not to oppress\, but to protect—risking his life to hide and save Jewish families during the Nazi occupation of France. His courage and dignity earned him the title of Righteous Among the Nations\, a testament to the quiet heroism that unfolded in the shadows of war. \nBeyond his bravery\, Roger Lanier was also a gifted violinist. In the secrecy of his home\, where he sheltered those in danger\, he played his violin for the hidden Jewish family\, offering them brief moments of solace amidst fear. Through music\, he wove light into their darkest days\, reminding them that even in times of despair\, hope could still find a way to sing. \n\n\nOle Dahl\n\n \nOle Steffen Dahl was a master violin maker\, but his life was shaped by more than just music. Born in 1919 in Copenhagen\, he apprenticed at Emil Hjorth and Sons\, learning the delicate art of crafting violins. But when Germany invaded Denmark in 1940\, his world changed overnight. \nA member of the Danish Navy\, Ole was interned by the Germans—until he chose to fight back. Joining the Danish Resistance\, he traded the tools of a luthier for those of a saboteur\, risking his life to disrupt Nazi operations. His childhood home became a refuge for Danish Jews escaping to Sweden\, and though he rarely spoke of it\, his brother believed he played a role in their safe passage. \nThrough it all\, music remained his solace. His violin\, an early Hopf from the late 18th or early 19th century\, was more than an instrument—it was an anchor. In the midst of war\, he turned to Vivaldi\, Bach\, and Mozart\, finding moments of beauty in the chaos. Even as he carried out acts of sabotage\, helping to derail supply lines and resist the occupation\, his violin remained by his side. After the war\, he joined the British Army before eventually making a new life in America. \nBy 1950\, Ole was working as a violin maker in Chicago\, later establishing his own shop in Bloomington\, Indiana\, where he repaired instruments for the Indiana University School of Music. Encouraged by renowned musicians like Janos Starker and Josef Gingold\, he became a trusted luthier\, lending a Ruggieri violin to students free of charge. \nThough he never spoke of his Resistance days\, the duality of his life—warrior and artist\, saboteur and craftsman—remained a mystery even to his own children. His violin carries his story forward. From the secret gatherings of the Danish Resistance to the hands of young musicians\, it remains a testament to the resilience of both its maker and the music he cherished. \n\n\nRabin Violin\n\n \nThe Rabin Violin is more than an instrument—it is a tribute to one of Israel’s most pivotal leaders. Dedicated to Yitzhak Rabin\, the violin carries his signature on its label\, a lasting mark from a man who shaped history through both war and peace. Rabin served twice as Israel’s Prime Minister (1974-77\, 1992-95) and was the country’s Chief of Staff during the Six-Day War. But his most enduring legacy lies in the pursuit of peace\, signing historic agreements with Jordan and the Palestinians in Oslo. \nOn January 10\, 1995\, just months before his assassination\, Rabin personally signed the belly of this violin before it was sealed. At the gathering in his office\, violinist Shlomo Mintz played for Rabin and his staff. Though Rabin admitted he wasn’t musical\, he recalled two unforgettable concerts—one in Beer Sheba in 1948\, and another after the Six-Day War. Today\, the Rabin Violin\, dedicated by Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein\, stands as a powerful symbol of resilience\, remembrance\, and the enduring hope for peace. \n\n\nShanghai Violin 97\n\n \nThis violin carries the echoes of a journey across continents. Originally owned by an Austrian Jewish musician who immigrated to China in the 1930s\, it became a constant companion in a life reshaped by history. Alongside his other violin\, he played in Shanghai’s nightclubs\, hotels\, and the Shanghai Symphony\, weaving melodies into the city’s vibrant cultural scene. \nWhen the musician left for the United States in the 1950s\, the violin remained behind\, finding a new home with a collector in China. Years later\, it was acquired by Xinou Wei\, who continued to play it for many years—ensuring its voice was never lost\, only passed on. \n\n\nVOH 61 AIPAC\n\n \nThis violin carried Dr. Leon Schatzberg-Sawicki through the darkest of times. Born in Colomja\, Poland\, in 1918\, he was a talented musician who graduated from the Levov Conservatory in 1938 before pursuing medicine at Levov University. By 1941\, as the Nazi occupation took hold\, survival meant reinvention. With false identity papers\, he became Leon Sawicki\, a Polish name that helped him and his wife\, Ella\, navigate a dangerous world. \nThroughout the war\, this violin was his lifeline. He played on street corners\, in restaurants\, and in impromptu bands across Poland\, while Ella tutored Polish children—acts of resilience in a time of fear. Liberated by the Soviets in July 1944\, they went on to build a life filled with music\, family\, and hope\, eventually settling in New York. Dr. Schatzberg-Sawicki’s violin remained with him\, a reminder of survival\, love\, and the melodies that carried him forward. \n\n\n\n  \n\nAbout Violins of Hope\nViolins of Hope is an international project that honors the lives lost and affected by the Holocaust through the powerful medium of music. This extraordinary initiative centers on a collection of 70 Holocaust-era string instruments—violins\, violas\, and cellos—that once belonged to Jewish musicians before and during World War II. \nFor some\, their music became a lifeline; for others\, the violins were the sole survivors of their stories. Decades later\, these instruments found their way to Israeli violinmaker Amnon Weinstein’s workshop. With meticulous care\, Amnon and his son\, Avshalom\, have spent over 20 years restoring them\, ensuring the violins could sing once more as symbols of resilience\, hope\, and humanity. \nEach instrument carries unique markings\, such as Stars of David or inscribed names\, testifying to its history and heritage. Today\, these violins travel the world for cultural exhibitions\, concerts\, and educational programs\, spreading messages of remembrance\, unity\, and perseverance. Featured in books\, films\, and museums\, Violins of Hope has inspired audiences globally\, bridging the past with the present through the universal language of music. \n  \nThe Violins have traveled to cities across the globe\, including:\nRome (2014)\, Tel Aviv & Berlin (2015)\, Cleveland (2015)\, London (2017)\, Washington D.C (2017)\, Sarasota (2017)\, Birmingham (2018)\, Fort Wayne (2019)\, Phoenix (2019)\, San Francisco/East Bay (2020\, 2022)\, Los Angeles County (2020-21)\, Richmond (2021)\, Chicago (2023)\, Paris (2024) \nLearn more: https://www.violins-of-hope.com/ \n 
URL:https://www.thefhm.org/event/violins-of-hope/
LOCATION:The Palladium Theatre\, 253 5th Ave N\, St. Petersburg\, FL\, 33701\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T183000
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SUMMARY:​Beyond Silence: Confronting the Past\, Shaping the Future
DESCRIPTION:A Candid Dialogue on Legacy and Responsibility.\n​Featuring: Pastor Kai Hoess\, Mike Igel\, and Rabbi Ed Rosenthal as moderator \nMarch 27\, 2025 | 6:30 p.m. | ​Miller Auditorium\, Eckerd College (4200 54th Ave S\, St. Petersburg\, FL 33711)​ \nHistory’s echoes shape our present—but what happens when we choose a different path? \nJoin us for a powerful conversation exploring the personal and collective responsibility to shape a more just future. \nFeaturing Pastor Kai Hoess\, grandson of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss\, and Mike Igel\, Interim CEO & Chair Emeritus of The FHM and grandson of Holocaust Survivors\, with Rabbi Ed Rosenthal as moderator. \nThrough this dialogue\, we’ll explore history’s impact and the power of our choices. Join us in reflecting on the role we each play in ensuring that “never again” is more than a refrain—it’s a lasting commitment. \n Reserve Your Seat Today\n  \n  \n  \nStudents & FHM Members: Free \nNot-Yet Members: $5 \n​QUESTIONS? Contact 727.820.0100 ext. 276 or PublicPrograms@thefhm.org \n  \nAbout Our Speakers\n\nPastor Kai Hoess\n\nKai Hoess\, grandson of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss\, has dedicated his life to education\, reconciliation\, and faith. After a career in international hospitality\, a near-death experience in 1989 led him to explore faith and a deeper sense of purpose. Now a pastor in Stuttgart\, he speaks globally on the Holocaust\, racism\, and antisemitism\, using his family’s history to confront hatred and promote healing. Featured in The Commandant’s Shadow\, a Warner Brothers documentary\, Kai shares his journey of transformation\, believing in the power of forgiveness\, reconciliation\, and the enduring promise of hope for all people. \n\n\n\nMike Igel\n\nMike Igel has been the Interim CEO & Chair Emeritus of The Florida Holocaust Museum since 2024\, after serving as a Board member since 2014 and Chair since 2018. The grandson of Holocaust survivors\, he leads the Museum’s outreach and advocacy efforts\, applying the lessons of history to combat modern antisemitism. Appointed in 2021 as Chair of Florida’s Holocaust Education Task Force\, he advises on statewide curricula. Outside his advocacy work\, Mike is a Partner at Johnson Pope LLP\, where he co-chairs the Health Care Team\, representing hospitals\, physician groups\, and healthcare organizations on regulatory and business matters. \n\n\n  \nThank You to Our Partners!\n       \n 
URL:https://www.thefhm.org/event/beyond-silence/
LOCATION:Eckerd College – Miller Auditorium\, 4200 54th Ave S\, St. Petersburg\, FL\, 33711\, United States
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