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Pritzker Military Museum & Library: Violins of Hope Exhibit
August 10, 2023 @ 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Join us for special one-day-only exhibit and programs with JCC Chicago’s Violins of Hope to explore the stories of the Jewish musicians and their violins, viola, and cello from before and during World War II. Musicians of any age can sign-up to play these historic instruments throughout the afternoon. Visitors can explore a temporary exhibition of historical instruments, join a lunch time discussion with Pastor Chris Edmonds, and enjoy an evening reception, music, and conversation with Avshi Weinstein, co-founder of Violins of Hope and consecrate the newest violin, ‘Alfred Eisenberg,’ into the collection.
Free to the public.
Registration required for:
- Lunch-time program
- Musicians playing instruments (sign-up for timeslots)
- Evening reception and program.
Events
10am-4pm
Visitors to the PMML can explore a limited-time exhibit of violins with expert docents.
Noon-1pm
Join a presentation and Q&A with Pastor Chris Edmonds about his father, WWII hero Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds and his actions to protect Jewish American soldiers from Nazi persecution in a German POW camp.
In the afternoon, musicians may sign up for a unique opportunity to play a historical violin, viola, or cello in the auditorium of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library.
5-6pm
Join us for an evening reception with live music by a quartet from the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra.
6-7pm
Program with a violin performance, conversation with Avshalom (Avshi) Weinstein, co-founder of Violins of Hope, and the presentation of the newest addition to the Violins of Hope, the ‘Alfred Eisenberg.’
About the Event
Violins of Hope is a project of concerts and exhibitions based on a private collection of violins, a viola and a cello all collected since the end of World War II. Many of the instruments belonged to Jews before and during the war. Many were donated by or bought from survivors; some arrived through family members and many simply carry Stars of David as a decoration.
Pastor Chris Edmonds is the son of WWII hero Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, whose fearless bravery saved the lives of more than 200 Jewish American soldiers in a prisoner of war camp in Germany. Pastor Chris recently received Righteous Among the Nations on behalf of his father from the Nation of Israel and Yad Vashem, the World’s Holocaust Remembrance Authority. He is being considered for the Medal of Honor and has been nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal.
Avshalom (Avshi) Weinstein, is a third-generation Israeli violinmaker, trained by his father, Amnon, and began working in their workshop in 1998 as a violinmaker and restorer of violins, violas, and cellos. He is trained in the tradition of the Italian Cremonese School of violinmakers and the French school of restoration. Since Violins of Hope became a major force in Holocaust education, Avshi has traveled the world, and brought the collection around the world.
Tickets: https://my.pritzkermilitary.org/packages/flex/17/e7d74554007a3c5a10292e440db6f6a3.
