Holocaust Violins In Minnesota Bring Powerful Warning About History Repeating

"The violinists, seated so close to me that I could have plucked their strings, cradled instruments that were almost a century old. The violins were once owned and played by Jewish people during the Holocaust. Rescued as part of the Violins of Hope project, they now toured the world as both summons and warning: Remember, or history repeats."

"I had carpooled to the concert with my friend Hal, who would direct, emcee, and play trumpet. On the drive, we discussed ICE in neighboring Minnesota, where a woman lost her life protesting their presence. We talked about leaders blaming immigrants for America's problems, and about armed agents marching city streets. Was it already too late to prevent repeating history?"

"Several years ago, I sent my spit to a genealogy company and learned that I'm 9% Ashkenazi Jewish, likely inherited from a grandparent or great-grandparent. I called my brother. We searched our DNA relatives and traced this heritage to my father's side, but the people who could have told us more about our heritage died long ago. Raised Catholic, I studied piano with the nuns and played hymns for Sunday Mass."

One hundred and twenty people packed the Chabad as a Christian woman sat at the keyboard with Jewish musicians performing. The violinists played instruments rescued by the Violins of Hope project, instruments once owned and played by Jewish people during the Holocaust and intended as a summons and warning: remember or history repeats. The woman had learned she was 9% Ashkenazi Jewish through a genealogy test and traced the ancestry to her father's side. She had been raised Catholic and studied piano with nuns, yet felt her hands carried Jewish genes. The rabbi lit candles while urging the congregation to pass the flame.

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