Reflections on "Violins of Hope"

I have learned; I have studied
The Holocaust, the Shoah; the destruction of millions of stories
I have reflected; I have imagined
The souls of those who were lost; where we would be today with them

The music began; the violins began to tell their stories
The history was awakened; we were transported back in time
The musicians and the instruments were as one; their stories became intertwined
I sat in my seat mesmerized; everything around me faded from view

Each violin cried; each violin sang; each violin smiled; each violin spoke
Jewish communities of old; Jewish communities of today
Every person sitting in the theater was reminded; our present became our past
We became a lost soul; their souls became alive in our thoughts as we remembered

Communities come together to learn; communities come together to remember
Atrocities; Genocide; Mass Killings; Holocaust
We closed our eyes and cried; We opened our eyes and wept
The future is now; the past is now; the present is now

These violins teach us not just their history, but our history.
We must learn so we do not repeat the same mistakes.
Hate begets hate begets hate begets hate begets hate...
Love is the only answer - the only solution - the remedy so these memories are not repeated.

Blessed are You, God, the One who teaches, encourages and stands by us as we learn together.