The Liberation of Mankind: The Story of Man’s Struggle for the Right to Think

A history of mankind's quest for tolerance, subtitled "The story of Man's struggle for the right to think", this book covers tolerance (particularly religious tolerance) from the ancient Greeks through the Inquisition, the Renaissance, the Reformation to the present day, with chapters on important historical figures including Erasmus, Rabelais, Giordano Bruno, Spinoza and Thomas Paine. Winner of a National Jewish Book Award A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of Hope tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, and the Israeli violin maker dedicated to bringing these inspirational instruments back to life. The violin has formed an important aspect of Jewish culture for centuries, both as a popular instrument with classical Jewish musicians and as a central factor of social life, asin the Klezmer tradition. But during the Holocaust, the violin assumed extraordinary roles within the Jewish community. For some musicians, the instrument was a liberator; for others, it was a savior that spared their lives. For many, the violin provided comfort in mankind's darkest hour, and, in at least one case, helped avenge murdered family members. Above all, the violins of the Holocaust represented strength and optimism for the future. Today, these instruments serve as powerful reminders of an unimaginable experience--they are memorials to those who perished and testaments to those who survived. In this spirit, renowned Israeli violinmaker Amnon Weinstein has devoted the past twenty years to restoring the violins of the Holocaust as a tribute to those who were lost, including four hundred of his own relatives. Behind each of these violins is a uniquely fascinating and inspiring story. Juxtaposing these narratives against one man's harrowing struggle to reconcile his own family's history and the history of his people, this insightful, moving, and achingly human book presents a new way of understanding the Holocaust. A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of Hope tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, and the Israeli violin maker dedicated to bringing these inspirational instruments back to life.The violin has formed an important aspect of Jewish culture for centuries, both as a popular instrument with classical Jewish musicians—Jascha Heifetz, Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman—and also a central factor of social life as part of the enduring Klezmer tradition. But during the Holocaust, the violin assumed extraordinary new roles within the Jewish community. For some musicians, the instrument was a liberator; for others, it was a savior that spared their lives. For many, the violin provided comfort in mankind's darkest hour, and, in at least one case, helped avenge murdered family members. Above all, the violins of the Holocaust represented strength and optimism for the future.In Violins of Hope, music historian James A. Grymes tells the amazing, horrifying, and inspiring story of the violins of the Holocaust, and of Amnon Weinstein, the renowned Israeli violinmaker who has devoted the past twenty years to restoring these instruments in tribute to those who were lost, including 400 members of his own family. Juxtaposing tales of individual violins with one man's harrowing struggle to reconcile his own family's history and the history of his people, it is a poignant, affecting, and ultimately uplifting look at the Holocaust and its enduring impact. The violin has formed an important aspect of Jewish culture for centuries, both as a popular instrument with classical Jewish musicians and as a central factor of social life, as in the Klezmer tradition. But during the Holocaust, the violin assumed extraordinary roles within the Jewish community. For some musicians, the instrument was a liberator; for others, it was a savior that spared their lives. For many, the violin provided comfort in mankind's darkest hour, and, in at least one case, helped avenge murdered family members. Above all, the violins of the Holocaust represented strength and optimism for the future. Today, these instruments serve as powerful reminders of an unimaginable experience-they are memorials to those who perished and testaments to those who survived. In this spirit, renowned Israeli violinmaker Amnon Weinstein has devoted the past twenty years to restoring the violins of the Holocaust as a tribute to those who were lost, including four hundred of his own relatives. Behind each of these violins is a uniquely fascinating and inspiring story. Juxtaposing these narratives against one man's harrowing struggle to reconcile his own family's history and the history of his people, this insightful, moving, and achingly human book presents a new way of understanding the Holocaust A Stirring Testament To The Strength Of The Human Spirit And The Power Of Music, Violins Of Hope Tells The Remarkable Stories Of Violins Owned By Jewish Musicians During The Holocaust (some Surviving When Their Owners Did Not) Through The Work Of Internationally-recognized Israeli Violin Maker Amnon Weinstein, Who Has Spent Two Decades Bringing These Neglected, Severely Damaged Instruments Back To Life-- Prologue: Amnon's Violins -- The Wagner Violin -- Erich Weininger's Violin -- ·the Auschwitz Violin -- Ole Bull's Violin -- Feivel Wininger's Violin -- Motele Schlein's Violin -- Epilogue: Shimon Krongold's Violin -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index James A. Grymes. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 301-308) And Index. "A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of hope tells the remarkable stories of violins owned by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust (some surviving when their owners did not) through the work of internationally-recognized Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein, who has spent two decades bringing these neglected, severely damaged instruments back to life"--Provided by publisher. "A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of Hope tells the remarkable stories of violins owned by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust (some surviving when their owners did not) through the work of internationally-recognized Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein, who has spent two decades bringing these neglected, severely damaged instruments back to life"-- Provided by publisher A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, this book tells the remarkable stories of violins owned by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust (some surviving when their owners did not) through the work of internationally-recognized Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein, who has spent two decades bringing these neglected, severely damaged instruments back to life. -- Provided by publisher