He was one of the greatest violin makers of the 20th century. Amnon Weinstein, born in Tel Aviv in 1939, devoted years to finding the violins left behind by the Jews.
From the day he decided on this, he aimed to repair them and give them life by accepting them as living witnesses. This master, who lost his entire family in concentration camps, always took care of these violins, which have become a true legacy of memory, with infinite finesse and artistry. This business, which Amnon inherited from his father, is continued today by his son Avshi.
Amnon's workshop in Tel Aviv resembled a laboratory and a small museum. In this workshop where the violins, which are a part of the cultural heritage of European Jews and silent witnesses of their experiences, were repaired, you would witness how Amnon gave them life again with determination and great love. While watching Amnon's work in that small workshop, the events would spontaneously turn into a movie.
Amnon Weinstein (July 1939 – March 2024) was an Israeli luthier. He was the founder and promoter of the Violins-of-Hope Collection. Amnon Weinstein was born in Tel Aviv during the Mandate era. He was married to the journalist Assaela Weinstein who was the daughter of Asael Bielski, one of the anti-Nazi Bielski partisans immortalized in the movie, Defiance.
All these special violins, whose elegance comes from their tragic fate and the love Amnon put into their restoration, make up the 'Violins of Hope' program. The project is performed on stages around the world. Whether in Berlin, Paris, New York, or Tel Aviv, today's greatest virtuosos make these violins speak again when they perform important works from the classical repertoire.
If I had to describe Amnon Weinstein in one word, it would probably be 'passion'. His passion for his family and ancestors, violin making, the musicians he has helped throughout his life, photography, traveling, and living life to the fullest...