"Bronislaw Huberman, the great violinist," "Did something few artists do." "He stood up to tyranny," "Intolerance and racism." "He stepped out in front with all of his stardom and fame," "Used his music to organize something totally new," "To show that the threat of Nazism would not destroy" "The cultural achievement of the Jewish people." "(Itzhak Perlman) Huberman was both a dreamer" "And a visionary." "What he stood against took bravery." "He said this is a rescue mission" "This is an artistic mission," "I'm going to do it, and he did it." "(Zubin Mehta) Huberman had a calling," "And he followed that calling and we are grateful," "We are very grateful." "(Huberman) We were poor, alright," "But that needn't have prevented a little joy in our lives." "My father had an ungovernable temper;" "And it cost him his job as a teacher." "But his real passion was for music." "The circumstances of his youth" "Had not allowed him to become a musician" "So he wanted one of his sons" "To realize his personal ambition." "It seems that fate selected me." "When I was 8 my father was advised to take me to Berlin" "To seek a better teacher than could be found in Poland." "For one year my parents made all possible savings," "And then some of our furniture was sold," "Yielding 400 rubles..." "To this day I feel the memory of those rubles" "On our kitchen table..." "The future of the family depended upon my poor violin." "Finally, we left for Berlin," "Where I was accepted by Josef Joachim," "Who was the greatest violinist of that time." "(Joachim) It is with pleasure that I state" "That the 9-year-old Huberman of Poland" "Has an outstanding talent for music." "(Narrator) After only a few years of study with Joachim..." "Adelina Patti, an aging Diva of the day," "Heard of the soulful 12-year-old" "And invited him to play before her farewell concert in 1895." "The reviews were unkind to her," "But ignited the young Huberman's career." ""For last night's concert we came to salute a star"" "Whose light is beginning to disappear," "But we had the rare surprise" ""Of witnessing a new star on the horizon."" ""We can, without fear," "Predict for him the most brilliant career."" "Broni's father immediately saw the financial potential" "For showcasing his son," "And stopped his lessons to launch his career." "He was given no further education" "For the rest of his childhood." "(Huberman) I was only 12 years old" "But it was clear to me" "That our whole family's financial survival" "Depended on my career." "There is no real child prodigy without the mother or father" "That's behind him." "They were really very pushy." "You can't be a child prodigy without this." "It's part of it." "The young Huberman's early fame thrust the 13-year-old" "Before the luminous society of Vienna" "To play the Brahms Violin Concerto..." "In the audience, the composer himself," "Johannes Brahms." "Brahms, who disliked prodigies, expected a weak," "Immature performance of his Concerto from the boy." "But he was delighted." "When Brahms heard this little boy" "The first time when he was 12," "The great artist could immediately identify" "That a great artist is in front of him." "Broni's father was immediately able to arrange" "Lucrative performances for his son in America," "Throughout Europe and as far as Russia." "He became a phenomenon." ""What a sound from a mere boy!"" "(Amboise Thomas) "Young Huberman is a real born musician."" "He was quickly acknowledged" "As one of the great violinists of the world " "A musical giant." "Huberman's sound was full," "Enormously round " "Beautiful sounds that produced overtones..." "Millions of overtones." "(Amnon Weinstein) His violin playing" "Was very impulsive, very intensive." "Very..." "Like he's going to eat the violin." "The first Tchaikovsky Concerto I heard in my life " "Played live - was Huberman." "(Mimics sounds)" "It was unbelievable!" "He had the best right hand of anybody!" "He was beloved by the cultural elite," "Invited to court by royalty," "And given a valuable Stradivarius violin" "By a Polish count." "He was like Frank Sinatra of our time," "Or Rudolph Valentino." "We are put on a pedestal," "Because we're different." "As time goes on, you become more addicted" "To that congratulatory way of people saying," "Ah, isn't it amazing..." "You hear it..." "Pinchas..." "Bronislaw, my God." "Some time between age 18-19," "There is a huge change that takes place..." "Chemically, psychologically," "Environment, depending on the people." "(Huberman) When I was 20" "My father died suddenly." "He had been my only companion for 10 years." "Then I found the fortune I had made" "Was entirely in his name," "And the law dictated that it all had to be shared" "With my mother and brothers." "For years after, their support still felt" "Like my responsibility." "(Else Galafres) "Good God!"" "Could this languid youth," "Who came slowly on the stage with stooped shoulders" "And dragging steps, be the great Huberman?" "I was close enough to see his ashen face." "Surely he had been greatly wronged to look like this." "But when he lifted the violin under his chin" ""He was transformed."" "Huberman and the beautiful singer and actress of the time," "Elsa Galafres, began to tour together," "And when she became pregnant they married in Russia in 1910." "(Else Galafres) Oh, the pain he still carried" "From his youth made it too difficult" "For him to find contentment in our marriage," "And after a few years I found I had to leave." "Mr. Huberman continued touring all over Europe" "With his true love - the violin." "Playing in Berlin at the start of WWI" "Huberman was arrested as a foreign national " "An enemy of the State." "Within hours the Crown Princess of Germany intervened" "To immediately secure his release." "Bronislaw Huberman had been insulated" "From the real world by his fame." "But the horror and sheer devastation of this war" "Shocked him awake." "And what he saw revealed the darker truth" "About his fellow man." "Bearing witness to the tragedy in Europe" "Changed Huberman forever." "It humanized him and roused a political consciousness" "That would be a focus for the rest of his life." "(Huberman) I had to descend into" "The furthest depths of my soul to find the hidden link" "Between my impulse towards art" "And my impulse towards politics..." "And then I made a huge discovery:" "The true artist does not create art as an end in itself;" "He creates art for human beings." "Humanity is the goal." "With his passion for politics kindled," "Huberman felt the huge gap in his education." "Against all professional advice," "He canceled his concerts for two years" "To study at the Sorbonne." "In 1922 Huberman embraced the Pan European movement," "Which called for political" "And economic unity of the European states" "In the hope of preventing another war." "Huberman joined" "French Prime Minister Aristide Briand," "Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein," "And many other intellectuals in promoting this powerful idea." "(Huberman) The feeling of being" "A European nationalist is so strong" "That I have been devoting all my spare time to writing" "And lecturing about this dream." "Zeev Steinberg:" "He was an idealistic man." "This is one of the reasons" "Why the idea of Pan Europe appealed to him very much." "I do not know of any other artists" "Of his posture" "That took part in this Pan European movement." "But 15 years later the Nazis would overtake Europe," "And the dream of peaceful European unity seemed hopeless." "(Huberman) Today it seems that" "The Pan European spirit" "Must first be launched with guns." "(Else Galafres) My husband was" "An eternally struggling soul " "Longing for peace in himself," "Which he never found," "He tried fervently for a peace among nations " "Both aims failed" "But fate had another mission for him." "Jewish immigrants to Palestine" "Brought a passion for music with them," "And despite a tiny population" "They attracted renowned soloists like Jascha Heifetz," "Who came in 1926." "The people who came, they were idealists." "They were crazy for culture," "And culture was for them not only books and theaters," "It was also music." "I think that the love for music," "All those people brought from their home." "This was known that the Jewish people" "Were crazy for music." "Everyone played an instrument." "The violin was very appropriate for the Jews" "Because it was handy," "Easy to schlep around from place to place," "Unlike a piano." "And it also has a special characteristic " "It's very difficult to hide one's emotions" "Behind the violin." "(Amnon Weinstein) We have had this outstanding" "Jewish violin tradition because of all these amateurs" "And all these Klezmers." "This was developing" "A very, very special kind of musical hearing" "In our people for the last 200 years." "That's why it's very natural" "For a Jewish kid to play the violin." "For a Jewish boy," "When he played the violin the first time," "This was his mother's voice." "Huberman first played in Palestine in 1929." "(Huberman) I was never so touched" "As I was by these audiences." "People of every part of society came." "Here were people with such a passion for music," "And they were so idealistic about their culture..." "I've made a vow never to say" "Another antagonistic word about Zionism." "(Ivry Gitlis) I think he found his world..." "I mean, he had all the great halls of Europe," "Of America, of everywhere," "But here, maybe he found the family he didn't have." "(Hitler) Once I really am in power," "My first and foremost task" "Will be the annihilation of the Jews..." "I will have gallows built in rows..." "Then the Jews will be hanged indiscriminately," "And they will remain hanging until they stink..." "As soon as they have been untied," "The next batch will be hung up..." "Until the last Jew has been exterminated," "Until all Germany has been completely cleansed" "Of Jews." "Adolph Hitler came to power in January of 1933" "And immediately began firing Jews from cultural institutions." "Thousands of Jewish musicians found themselves out of work." "People had different reactions." "Some who are very smart and wise" "Saw that Hitler may not be so temporary." "Two - the popular support of Hitler was so great" "That even if it were temporary," "This is no place to remain." "And who got out?" "The very lucky ones and the famous ones." "Or the ones who had to flee or the ones who had money." "But there were 500,000 Jews trapped in Germany," "Unable to obtain papers to other countries." "Huberman was one of the first people to know" "That this was going to be very dangerous." "Sometimes there are people that can see the future." "And Huberman had it..." "He understood what's going to happen." "Unfortunately, he was 100% right." "(Ida Ibbeken) Of course he was one" "Of the great artists, but he was different." "You could see that he cared so much for other people" "And the way they treated each other..." "And he suffered for it." "Huberman met Ida Ibbeken at the medical clinic" "Where he went for treatment for stress." "She was his nurse." "(Tzvi Avni) He fell in love with her..." "Ida Ibbeken was really the ideal partner" "Of a person like Huberman." "She was everything to him;" "She was a secretary and a cook and she carried his violin" "And everything was for her kind of holy, actually," "What she was doing for him." "She was totally absorbed in what he did," "And, of course, in his attitude towards the cause." "Germany had been Huberman's most supportive" "And lucrative audience." "But as Hitler's anti-Semitic policies became law," "He immediately canceled all of his concerts there," "To the dismay of his friend and supporter," "Wilhelm Furtwangler," "One of the most famous conductors in the world," "Head of the mighty Berlin Philharmonic." "Furtwangler claimed to oppose the Nazis as well," "But ultimately he stayed in Germany" "Conducting for Hitler until the end of the war." "He would struggle with his decision" "For the rest of his life." "To save his financially strapped orchestra," "Furtwangler had made a deal with the devil." "Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels guaranteed" "Financial support for the Berlin Philharmonic" "And leniency towards certain key Jewish players in return" "For Furtwangler's commitment to stay in Germany." "Furtwangler was naive?" "He believed in the power of music," "That it can change." "He believed also in taking care of his orchestra." "That was his instrument." ""These are mein kinder,"" "He would say." ""Mein kinder."" "But never the less, by the end of 1935," "Every Jew in the Berlin Philharmonic," "One way or another, had gone." "To maintain the heroic quality of his concerts," "Furtwangler needed great soloists," "And he went to Goebbels to seek exemptions" "For certain international Jewish artists." ""Special Jews."" "It was 1933..." "The Nazis were still concerned with world opinion." "So after Furtwangler's visit," "Goebbels created an edict" "He would not have made made even a year later." "(Goebbels) In the centre of our musical life," "Must be the cultivation of great German music." "But, every true artist must perform in Germany" "Without consideration of his race." "Furtwangler wrote immediately to invite Huberman" "To be the soloist at the opening concert" "Of the 1934 season - the most prestigious" "And lucrative invitation any musician could get." "(Furtwangler) Dear friend," "It is now clear that every artist," "No matter what his race, may perform in Germany." "I told the department that I was going to invite you." "Someone must make the first move." "I can't even imagine" "What it was like at that time." "He was being asked to play in Germany" "Where they were doing terrible things to the Jews" "And to musicians, and he was critical" "Of even the people who were not Nazis," "So he refused to play." "(Zeev Steinberg) He said they are throwing out" "People from the orchestra..." "From the music academies..." "We cannot lend our art" "To this kind of policies." "(Huberman) Dear friend," "I cannot accept your government's declarations" "As sufficient for my return to German concert life." "The gap between Germany" "And the cultural world is getting bigger every day." "Germans have become animals." "(Furtwangler) The foreign press exaggerates these things..." "There is a legal revolution going on in Germany," "And an artist has to accept" "The inevitable course of events as reality " "Whether one approves of it or not." "(Huberman) I am a Pole, a Jew," "A free artist and a Pan-European." "And by each of these characteristics" "I am a dead enemy of Nazism." "Playing everywhere in Europe, except Germany," "Huberman chose Vienna as a home base" "And its leaders proudly gave him a castle," "Schloss Hetzendorf, where he taught" "As the director of Vienna's Master Violin School." "The many disturbances in Vienna" "That targeted Jews that year affected Huberman greatly." "When no one would publicize these events" "He gave a concert to benefit the victims." "The indifference of the Viennese stunned him." "(Huberman) Are we going back to the times of Dreyfus?" "Will no one help the Jews?" "With the Nazis' brutal anti-Semitism" "Spreading across Europe," "Huberman was glad to return to Palestine" "For a recital tour in 1934." "All 12 concerts were completely sold out." "But Huberman was moved" "And frustrated that so many could not afford them," "So he offered to play reduced rate 'Workers' Concerts." "But even here in Palestine Huberman had a constant reminder" "Of Nazi anti-Semitism." "His long-time German pianist, Siegfried Schultze," "Had been forbidden by the Nazis" "To play with Huberman, the Jew." "(Huberman) Nazism destroyed the dream of Pan Europa," "And it provoked a fundamental change" "In my attitude towards Palestine." "I now believe this new state of the Jews" "Could fulfill our Pan European mission." "It was during this 1934 Palestine tour" "That Huberman had an inspiration" "That would change the cultural world." "(Huberman) With Hitler firing the best musicians in Germany," "It suddenly became clear to me" "That here was an extraordinary opportunity " "To give this wonderful audience" "In Palestine a first-class orchestra..." "This is when the Palestine Symphony began." "When he thought about establishing this orchestra," "I don't think he had any doubts" "As to what he was going to ask people to do." "You come to Palestine," "You play in the orchestra." "This is going to be something special." "(Huberman) Can you imagine a pro-Jewish, pro-Zionist campaign" "More effective than a concert tour of a Palestine Orchestra?" "This will enhance the prestige of Jews" "All over the world." "(Pinchas Zukerman) The doctrine of that society at the time," "What Huberman saw as a way to depart from it," "To say, come with me " "Here we're going to have freedom through music " "Through our music." "This is our music." "(Huberman) One has to build a fist against anti-Semitism." "A first-class orchestra will be this fist." "Governments around the world responded to Nazi policies" "With careful diplomacy" "But cultural icons openly expressed their outrage" "In a cable sent to Hitler." "(Toscanini) I would like that my name" "Be first on this cable in protest of this outrage." "The most famous musician in the world," "Arturo Toscanini, had conducted in Germany" "With overwhelming success in 1931" "At Richard Wagner's theater in Bayreuth." "The Maestro was immediately re engaged for 1933," "But in protest, Toscanini canceled." "Deeply wounded, Winifred Wagner asked her friend Adolph Hitler" "To try to convince Toscanini to return to Bayreuth." "(Hitler) Highly Honored Maestro," "I have always seen Bayreuth as the fulfillment" "Of a high artistic mission." "I look forward to the moment when I shall personally be able" "To thank you for your participation." "With Sincere Admiration, Adolph Hitler." "Toscanini had Hitler's letter translated word for word" "Into Italian so he understood it completely," "Before he said no." "Toscanini's public refusal to conduct in Nazi Germany" "Reflected his unbending resistance to Fascism." "And it attracted Huberman." "(Huberman) Maestro Toscanini," "I am obsessed by an idea in the musical realm," "The realization of which would have major cultural" "And political consequences." "I would be very grateful if you would give me the opportunity" "To visit in order share my idea with you." "Toscanini at that time was a political person." "And he was very very interested" "In this idea of Huberman and the orchestra." "(Toscanini) It is my duty to 'fight'" "For the cause of artists persecuted by Nazis." "He volunteered to conduct the opening concerts" "Of this new Palestine orchestra" "And all over the world that made a tremendous impression." "(Huberman) Maestro," "Your support of the orchestra is an historic moment" "In the struggle against Nazism" "And the building up of Palestine." "We will create an orchestra" "Of the highest European standards" "In a tiny country in need of an orchestra," "And it will be made up of musicians in need of a new home." "For the next two years Huberman traveled" "Across Europe auditioning Jewish musicians" "In search of the very best" "Among the thousands who had been fired by the Nazis." "Many musicians had not found work" "And they were searching for a way to live." "The idea of leaving their families" "And their home was difficult," "But the Nazi threat grew more worrisome every day" "And they came to Huberman's call." "Many people, even in Nazi Germany," "Thought that musicians wouldn't want to" "Go to Palestine, the desert." "Don't forget in 1936 still there were a lot" "Of Jewish persons, including musicians," "Who believed that it would blow over." "But as their options were running out," "Huberman's auditions attracted more and more of the top players" "Willing to consider leaving their homeland." "Huberman knew he could not take out" "The thousands who wished to leave Germany;" "He would select only the very best players" "And he steeled himself to the idea of what might happen" "To those he did not choose." "It was very, very difficult for him" "And sometimes he just had to empty himself" "Of all his emotions" "And just really decide this man is better." "I know it sounds terrible" "Because in a way he was actually the judge" "Who is going to live and who is going to die." "(Huberman) God alone knows why" "This project became mine to fulfill." "But already 20 concert masters and solo cellists" "Have agreed to serve in the Palestine Symphony..." "In order to escape this Nazi Hell." "Huberman's primary motivation was to rescue his colleagues." "In addition he saw before other people did" "That the risk didn't only extend to German Jews." "That Hitler was going to wage a war," "And that Polish Jews and Czech Jews" "And Austrian Jews would be at risk." "So he went to recruit in Eastern Europe" "Because he knew this was not going to be limited to Germany." "Huberman's search took him home, to Poland." "The superb Warsaw Symphony was 40% Jewish," "And Huberman contacted a musician friend," "Jacob Surowicz, to arrange auditions." "(Ida Ibbeken) Mr. Surowicz," "You asked if even first class members of your orchestra" "Should get in touch with Mr. Huberman." "Mr. Huberman really had to laugh!" "The first class members" "Are the ONLY ones who should contact him!" "Please react accordingly and call your first class musicians." "Huberman knew many of the musicians in Poland" "And decided to hold 'blind' auditions..." "So his selections would be based solely" "On the players' musicianship." "(Huberman) In art there can be no mercy" "And no compromise." "Playing in the Warsaw Symphony at that time" "Were three brothers and their father," "Pesach Ginzburg," "Beloved patriarch of the orchestra" "And of the Jewish musical community in Warsaw." "Mr. Huberman came to our grandfather," "To Pesach's house," "To audition all the members of the family." "Then you had four of them together..." "It's very easy." "Anyway, they all were signed on the contract" "By the 30 of September, '36." "(Huberman) In Poland I found many" "Fine players for the orchestra," "Including my guide, Jacob Surowicz..." "And he will come with his family as well." "In the decades to follow, the Surowicz family" "Would continue to be heard in the orchestra." "I'm the 3rd generation in the orchestra." "My grandfather was one of the founders, Jacob Surowicz," "And my father played double bass in the orchestra" "And I've been playing since '67." "I was practically born intro the orchestra." "It was always part of my life." "As a matter of fact, when I joined the orchestra" "I had a feeling of some kind of fulfillment " "Of closing a cycle that started about 70 years ago." "You must understand that Huberman" "Was already a legend at that time" "And he auditioned musicians all over the world." "And if he invited you to play somewhere with him," "This is an offer you could hardly resist." "My father did the audition in Berlin." "Horst Salomon, one of the best" "French Horn players in Germany," "Had been pushed out of the Berlin Philharmonic." "(Doron Salomon) Huberman was convinced" "My father would be the new first horn in Palestine." "Not only a gifted horn player," "Horst was also a dedicated weight lifter and wrestler." "He was a candidate for the '36 Olympic games." "But because he was a Jew," "They didn't let him go and wrestle there." "He smelled the anti-Semitism." "And also the fact that he was not permitted" "To participate in sporting competitions," "He was convinced" "By Huberman to come to Palestine." "(Zubin Mehta) The Zionistic movement" "Was really growing in those days," "Especially because of the rise of Nazism." "Look at the situation in central Europe" "And Germany in particular in 1935 and 1936." "Nobody wanted his countrymen..." "His Jews." "Nobody wanted them there." "His solution was go to Palestine." "Find a new home." "(Doron Salomon) My father and his parents" "Had very strong survival sense." "They somehow felt that there was a catastrophe coming." "That's why they were so determined" "For him to emigrate to Palestine." "Huberman helped in trying to get Horst's parents" "To Palestine as well," "But for unknown reasons they didn't make it..." "And they disappeared in the Holocaust." "In Budapest at the time" "There was a very strong Jewish community." "A lot of the musicians were Jewish," "A lot of the very good and foremost musicians were Jewish." "My father, Lorand Fenyves," "Was called a wunderkind." "He was actually quite well known by 1934, I think." "What was happening in Germany gave possibilities" "For anti-Semitism to come out of the woodwork." "One of the stories I know" "From my father" "Is that he was in the hallway at the Academy," "And a bunch of Hungarian Nazi hoodlums" "Came storming into the Academy..." "Looking to catch a few Jews." "And the janitor happened to see my dad there" "And he grabbed him," "Threw him into the bathroom," "Locked the door." "There was no doubt" "In my father's mind that that janitor had saved his life." "(Thalia Fenyves) Huberman came to Budapest" "In order to hear my father." "After hearing Lorand Fenyves play," "Huberman immediately knew he wanted him" "And sent a telegram inviting him to Palestine." "So he went to his father and said," "I would really like to go to Palestine." "And his father finally agreed" "On one condition " "That he would take his sister with him as well." "Alice, who was four years older" "Than my father, was also a violinist." "So my father went back to Huberman" "With this and Huberman said, okay," "But you know I have a serious lack of violists." "And my father said no problem," "My sister also plays viola..." "Which she didn't," "But she learned very quickly." "(Lorand Fenyves) We both left within two weeks," "And next day we were in Palestine in rehearsal." "In December of 1935, Huberman was back in Palestine" "With a full concert schedule, and preparing" "For the orchestra's launch in the coming year." "Toscanini's agreement to conduct the opening concerts" "Had opened many doors, and the British" "And American press were promoting the project." "As the Nazis inspired bolder and more vicious anti-Semitism," "Huberman saw the rising danger for Jews," "And felt an unknowable timeline was being drawn." "(Joshua Bell) He was, at the time," "One of the most famous figures in music." "He could have been promoting himself" "And playing as many concerts as possible" "And making a lot of money." "He obviously had this mission." "By 1936 he had dedicated himself completely" "To the enormous challenges of building his orchestra," "And resigned his classes at the Music Academy" "To the dismay of Vienna's cultural elite." "Huberman invited his three master students in Vienna" "To come to Palestine to join the orchestra." "They would all stay in Israel and raise families there." "Two of them became concert masters" "And David Grunschlag also became a highly regarded soloist." "Luckily, for my family," "Nobody had to go through the ordeals of concentration camp," "Thanks to Huberman, because by getting my father out" "In 1936 to Palestine not only saved his life," "But also his sisters." "My two aunts, who were 20 and 16," "Were stuck in Vienna." "(Rosi Grunschlag) That's us" " Toni and Rosi " "A few years apart." "I know my brother tried to get us out" "But it was very, very difficult." "Luckily my brother could take my mother." "He could get a certificate for a parent" "But not for siblings." "So with her being out, we felt freer" "Because we would have never left her behind." "My sister Toni" "Tried to use all the opportunities" "That we might have had to get us out." "Any way possible." "My Aunt Toni was running from embassy to embassy" "To try to get permission to enter another country " "And nothing helped." "No one would take them." "(Rosi Grunschlag) When we had no option anymore," "A friend of Huberman handed Toni a piece of paper." "She said, here's Huberman's hotel in Budapest." "He's currently there." "Write him quick." "And so Toni wrote him..." "Dear Maestro, You are our last hope." "Please help us." "Two days time," "We had a telegram from Huberman." "Am on my way to London..." "Will try what I can." "He arrived in London," "And in six weeks we had student visas." "He made it all happen." "Yes." "Somehow, God gives you extra courage." "You don't know where it comes from," "But at that moment" "It gives you strength." "When I think back what we endured" "During the 13 months that we were with Hitler..." "It's amazing." "I don't know if I could do that over again." "During the years of his search for musicians," "Huberman was able to help" "Hundreds of other Jews get out of Nazi Europe." "(Amnon Weinstein) If somebody approached him" "And asked him, please bring my Aunt," "Please bring the husband of my second wife " "I don't know what - everyone, he helped them." "(Gad Lewertoff) He knew any Jew he gets out of Europe," "He's probably saved his life" "Or at least spared him a lot of misery a lot of suffering." "(Leon Botstein) Musicians who could not get out of Germany," "Or didn't want to get out of Germany," "Were very eager to join together into an organization," "The Judischer Kultrubund," "That would allow them to play" "And to continue an artistic life." "Kurt Singer, a charismatic doctor" "And stage director had the grand idea" "To create the Kulturbund," "Theaters and orchestras that would employ" "Out of work Jewish artists to perform for Jewish audiences." "Singer approached the Nazi Propaganda Ministry" "With his idea soon after Hitler took power in 1933." "The Nazis saw that this would" "Deflect rising international criticism" "And keep Jews away from mainstream theaters." "(Leon Botstein) The idea was," "We Jews are going to have our own cultural life" "With the Nazis around us until the Nazis go away." "Of course, Huberman didn't think they were going to go away." "Huberman thought, this is a form of collaboration," "This isn't right." "(Huberman) I am totally against concerts in Germany for us." "It's completely hypocritical." "The whole idea is out of the question." "But many Jewish artists," "Who thought the Nazis would be temporary," "Had few options for work," "And they followed Singer." "(Leon Botstein) Who was Singer?" "Singer was a flourishing example" "Of the wonderful life" "That an educated German Jew had in Berlin..." "He was a physician," "He was a choral conductor," "He had becomes one of the directors of the Berlin opera." "Who was going to give that up?" "When you looked at America," "Which wasn't even open, much less Palestine " "What was one going to do?" "I wouldn't have emigrated." "Here I am, a middle-aged person" "With a good position - what am I going to do?" "I'm trying to hold out and hope that it blows over." "Jews are long-suffering," "They have humor through tears." "The Judischer Kulturbund" "Was a hope against hope" "That they would survive these very evil people" "With as little damage as possible." "At its height, Singer's Kulturbund" "Employed 2,000 Jewish artists" "And had 70,000 audience members all over Germany." "Huberman felt the Kulturbund was dangerously misguided" "And he asked Hans Wilhelm Steinberg," "The conductor of the Frankfurt Kulturbund," "To recommend his best players for his Palestine orchestra." "(Singer) I have begged my good friend Steinberg," "To stop placing ads for musicians." "After all, we have no way" "To replace our Jewish musicians here in Germany." "Singer turned against any of his musicians" "Who decided to go with Huberman." "But in 1936 Steinberg himself left" "To join Huberman's new orchestra." "Some players did agree to uproot their families" "And go to Palestine;" "But others, believing the Kulturbund" "Would protect them, stayed," "And most perished in the Holocaust." "(Leon Botstein) It's wrong to think" "That people living at the time" "Should have or could have" "Either foreseen what was going to happen" "Or could do something about it." "Most of the people were dependent," "And those people Singer helped." "In September, 1941," "The Nazis dismantled the entire Kulturbund." "Realizing too late the futility of his whole endeavor," "Singer fled Berlin" "But was captured by the Nazis" "And sent to Theresienstadt, where he died." "With the world's seeming indifference" "To the escalating Nazi aggression" "Towards the Jews in Germany," "An outraged Huberman published an open letter of protest." "(Huberman) Since the publication" "Of the German racial ordinances," "A document of barbarism," "What have you 'real Germans'" "Done to rid humanity of this disgrace" "Against a defenseless minority?" "Before the whole world I accuse you," "You non-Nazi German intellectuals," "As those truly guilty of all these Nazi crimes." "Published in newspapers around the world," "The letter made Huberman a public symbol for protest" "Alongside Toscanini and the cellist Pablo Casals," "But the outcry had no real effect." "And few countries allowed Jews to immigrate." "So Huberman's orchestra building" "Also became a mission of rescue." "There were 70 chairs to fill for the Palestine Orchestra," "But Huberman had only 53 musicians signed from Europe" "And the start date was fast approaching." "Huberman was also far short of the money needed" "To launch his orchestra." "He arranged a huge fundraising tour in America," "Playing 42 benefit concerts in 60 days across the States." "(Dorit Straus) He was traveling all over" "The United States playing concerts," "Raising money, talking to everyone" "That he could think of about his orchestra" "And saving the musicians." "(Huberman) It sounds incredible," "But my work still increases." "(Ida Ibbeken) Mr. Huberman insists" "On doing everything for himself," "And with his stress I worry for his health." "The project has made him put his career on hold" "And for now we work only for the benefit of the orchestra." "He made speeches, he wrote articles," "He met big people" "To get them interested in the project." "He had this kind of attitude" "That he is a Statesman also," "Not only a violinist." "(Joshua Bell) He obviously had a lot of conviction." "But at a certain point" "Huberman was playing a concert" "At Carnegie Hall and his violin was stolen." "Apparently the thief snuck into Carnegie Hall" "And managed to get into Huberman's dressing room," "Put the violin underneath his coat" "And just walked out of Carnegie Hall" "With the Stradivarius." "The connection between the violinist and violin" "Becomes almost like your soul mate..." "Some people compare it to getting married;" "Finding the right instrument" "Is probably harder than finding the right wife." "He formed much of his career on this violin," "So it must have been devastating to go back" "To your dressing room and find out that your soul," "Your voice is missing." "No one would know for 50 years" "What happened to Huberman's Stradivarius." "(Huberman) With the loss of my dear violin," "On top of incessant pressure from this tour," "I feel I am close to a breakdown." "But I have no choice but to press forward." "Despite every fund raising effort," "Huberman still needed $80,000 more to launch his orchestra." "(Huberman) Dear Professor Einstein," "Because of German barbarity, Palestine is provided" "With an otherwise unimaginable opportunity..." "Einstein was the most famous Jew in the world," "And Huberman knew how powerful his presence" "At a fundraising dinner for New York Jews could be." "(Huberman) I know that many people try to use your good name!" "And I wouldn't add myself to their number," "But I feel this is an important event for you to join." "The Einstein dinner at the Waldorf Astoria" "Raised the final funds necessary to proceed..." "The orchestra was fully funded," "The greatest conductor in the world was committed." "And the first Palestine Symphony tour" "Was booked for the Fall of 1936." "There was still much work to be done," "But Huberman knew that his dream was coming to life." "Suddenly, unexpected violence from within Palestine," "Threatened the whole project." "Jewish immigration to Palestine had tripled since 1933," "And the Arab High Committee repeatedly asked the British" "To stop Jewish immigration" "And the transfer of Arab lands to Jews." "Angered by the British response," "The Arabs protested," "Called a strike," "And finally a group of Arabs stormed the town of Jaffa," "Attacking Jews." "The British responded with military force," "And the most destructive and bloodiest riots" "In a decade began and continued for months." "(Horowitz) Huberman," "Situation in Palestine too volatile," "Too dangerous." "Stop." "Everything must be delayed." "It was painfully clear that moving 70 European musicians" "And their families to Palestine at that time was impossible." "(Huberman) Hard as it is to accept," "The beginning of the season in Palestine must be postponed." "We can only wait and see" "If the British response to the riots" "Will accelerate or delay our hopes." "Toscanini graciously agreed to a postponement until December." "(Huberman) My dear friends," "Given the political realities at this time," "I regret that we are obliged" "To push back the assembly of the orchestra for two months." "(Willi Wolf Sprecher) Honored Professor Huberman," "I received a contract starting August 1st as a horn player" "With the assurance that I would receive" "The Immigration Certificate in a few weeks." "In response, I let my apartment go." "Now I receive news of a postponement." "And I'm staying with my children at my parents." "But here I have no income and no prospects." "Is there anything you can do, Mr. Huberman, to help?" "With great respect, Willi Wolf Sprecher." "(Huberman) I assure you this delay" "Does not affect our pledge for the creation of the orchestra." "Huberman felt responsible for all the musicians" "And their families whose plans were put on hold." "But there were positive sides to the delay." "It bought him time to complete the orchestra roster" "And to continue to negotiate what had become" "An on-going problem - immigration." "To move to Palestine you needed a 'Certificate'" "Approved by the British and the Jewish Agency," "Which, because of the current situation," "Had fewer to give." "The head of the Jewish Agency, David Ben Gurion," "Was as unyielding as Huberman," "And he wanted 'workers'" "To come build Israel." "He assumed Huberman's fancy musicians" "Would return to Europe when it was safe to go back " "A waste of a Permanent Certificate." "Citing the current Arab conflict," "The Jewish Agency now offered Huberman" "Only temporary certificates for his musicians." "(Huberman) I was promised full rights" "For my musicians, and I will agree" "Only to certificates that offer my players" "And their families permanent status in Palestine." "You know how many people" "Tried to have these certificates?" "Do you know how many people tried to come to Israel" "Or to go to America or other places?" "In America they didn't want us." "In Canada it was completely closed." "To have a certificate, you have your life in your hands." "You don't have a certificate," "Who knows if you will exist at the end of '45." "The situation got even worse." "On August 28th Huberman received another alarming cable" "From his lawyer in Palestine." "(Horowitz) A Government decision" "Feared soon that will halt all immigration entirely." "Strongly suggest the musicians leave for Palestine immediately," "Whether they have valid certificates or not." "(Gina Ginzburg) The Arabs started rioting again," "Started killing people;" "So the British they wanted to stop all immigration." "So Mr. Huberman, he didn't know what to do." "The whole project was at risk of collapsing." "And Huberman was distraught" "Over the fate of his musicians and their families." "Up to now I felt I was on the edge of a nervous breakdown," "But now I feel I'm in its center." "It seemed that three years of effort and sacrifice" "Had come to nothing." "But finally, some good luck." "(Huberman) At the last minute," "The English did rescind this dreadful edict." "Thank God." "But despite their continuing negotiations," "Ben Gurion still refused" "To give Huberman any of his precious Permanent Certificates." "Huberman went to a higher authority." "He went to Chaim Weizman," "President of the World Zionist Conference." "(Huberman) Dr. Weizman, As you know," "I have been moving heaven and hell" "To establish a first-class orchestra in Palestine." "The Jewish Agency promised certificates for the musicians," "But now they are looking for ways out of the agreement." "So I come to you, Dr. Weizmann," "Asking that you prevent this fiasco." "(Zeev Steinberg) He knew exactly what he was doing." "That includes getting people" "To do some thing that otherwise they would not have done." "Chaim Weizmann went to everyone whom he knew" "With some sort of influence in the home office." "The days turned into weeks awaiting word." "The date for starting rehearsals was approaching" "And Huberman still had chairs to fill," "But without immigration certificates" "The whole enterprise was in doubt." "Finally, on August 11, 1936," "Word came from the Department of Immigration" "The British High Commissioner, Sir Arthur Wauchope," "Through the intervention of Weizman," "Had simply 'created' extraordinary-use" "Permanent Certificates to be given" "By Bronislaw Huberman at his discretion." "Zeev Steinberg:" "We don't know how he did it," "We don't know to whom, and... [laughs]" "But we know that he did that." "Permanent Certificates in hand," "Huberman's musicians" "From Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland" "And the Netherlands made their way to Palestine." "In the beginning of September, thoroughly exhausted," "Huberman could finally go to his home" "In Switzerland with Ida, to rest." "(Bronislaw Bullfinch) Today many Polish musicians left for Palestine." "All were very happy and cried tears of joy!" "(Heinz Schiefer) I was already 30," "So I was too old to be engaged by an orchestra if I came back." "So it was like a goodbye to Germany forever." "(Uri Toeplitz) We were 10 or 12 musicians altogether..." "I traveled with Polischuk, Odnopossoff, Zimmermann." "Heinrich Sachs was there." "And Bernstein." "And from Vienna, Grunschlag and Haftel..." "We gave a concert on the ship." "It was, of course, a very good feeling to leave Germany." "We felt liberated because the pressure was gone." "Our final destination was Haifa." "This was a little bit like the Wild West, I guess." "They came from Budapest," "They'd been in Vienna," "They'd been all over Europe" "And here they get off the boat in Haifa," "And..." "I mean, there's nothing." "It's sand, a few buildings." "They arrive in Haifa" "And they had a bus that was waiting for them" "And there was curfew by the British Mandate." "Nobody was supposed to be outside, and they traveled" "With this bus to Tel Aviv under those types of conditions." "(Uri Toeplitz) We tracked through Arab country," "The towns of Djenin and Tul Karem." "When we finally reached the coast," "We saw citrus plants and people on the streets." "This was extremely nice." "Tel Aviv was really a desert" "Before they came." "Can you imagine camels going on 5th Avenue?" "I mean, that's how it felt." "And then came the German Jews," "With suits and ties and funny hats, you know." "There's a picture of my father" "Wearing gloves..." "In a suit, tie," "Perfectly put out in a hot country" "In the middle of the summer." "Leon Botstein:" "Going to Palestine was no picnic." "A lot of people described the heat and the bugs" "And the desert and the difficulty." "(Itzhak Perlman) They came because they believed in Huberman." "What he did was something that had to do" "With leadership as well, to inspire others to come." "(Thalia Fenyves) It was big deal coming to a land" "Where the culture is almost non-existent," "But everybody is very, very thirsty for it." "There was a lot of excitement in the air," "A hustle and bustle." "This was a country in the making." "The first concert was set for December 26th." "Two months of rehearsals were to start" "November 1st under the baton of Maestro Steinberg." "William Steinberg came before Toscanini" "To prepare the orchestra." "He was a young conductor in those days." "Steinberg was the conductor from Frankfurt who had" "Helped Huberman find Kulturbund musicians in Germany." "The unexpected two-month delay actually helped things" "Because it was so much cooler in November," "But it was also very wet." "Torrential rains broke up rehearsals" "Because of the terrible noise on the metal roof" "And water dripped on to the musicians" "And their instruments." "Most of the musicians lived in North Tel Aviv near the sea" "And could walk with their instruments to rehearsals." "(Yoram Kanyuk) Ben Yehuda Street," "Which led to where the orchestra played later," "Was not paved yet." "After the rains, the dirt pathways" "Quickly became mud." "They practiced their Hebrew, calling it Botz." "All the members of the philharmonic came." "They were so admired here that when they were walking" "The buses stopped and gave them a lift..." "So they were very liked here." "It created kind of a commune within the city." "All the restaurants..." "the menus were in German." "They wanted to create a home for themselves," "Which is very touching." "Deeply inside they were so hurt." "I think there was a lot of pain at what was happening in Europe" "And a lot of fear for loved ones that stayed behind." "(Yoram Kaniuk) It was hell in the beginning." "And the music gave them pride," "Gave them a way of being themselves." "Seventy-three musicians started the orchestra - 19 from Poland, 16 from Germany," "10 from Austria, 4 each from Hungary and Holland," "And some were selected" "From among the local players in Palestine." "Twenty of these musicians had played first chair" "In their respective orchestras," "And none expected to come to this desert outback" "Only to come down in musical status." "You are talking about the best players in Europe." "And you know Jewish people don't forget that " "So I know better than you and he knows better than him..." "And the fights are coming immediately." "(Huberman) Bringing together 70" "Jewish musicians was hard enough;" "Turning them from 70 self-confirmed soloists" "Into a disciplined orchestra seemed almost impossible." "(Dorit Straus) It didn't end for Huberman" "In getting the best musicians in 1936," "Because even though he got his orchestra, people left." "Some people found it too hard to be in Palestine." "Dora Loeb, a violist from Germany," "Was unhappy with the living conditions " "And she was homesick." "Against Huberman's advice," "She decided to go back to Germany," "Where she joined a Kulturbund Orchestra." "She played there until the SS shut down the entire Kulturbund." "Dora was then deported by freight train" "To the Riga concentration camp," "Where she disappeared in the Holocaust." "Polish violinist Raphael Broches" "Came in '36 to join the orchestra." "He asked Huberman's permission to return to Europe" "For only a few months to finish his PhD." "But his work was delayed" "And he stayed longer than he intended." "Before he could return to Palestine" "He was detained by the Nazis." "Broches was murdered" "In the Treblinka extermination camp." "As things got worse in Europe," "The musicians who were here," "I think this pushed them harder." "This made them say, this is so right." "This is just the thing to do," "To save that culture - music." "I think there was a sense of responsibility," "That they absolutely had to pass it forward." "(Amnon Weinstein) Huberman brought here" "All the best concert Meisters," "And they were the best teachers." "One of the greatest things was the music school." "Huberman insisted that everyone teach," "Because we have to build a new generation of musicians." "My father was a very dedicated teacher." "I mean, a lesson with him was like a war." "You knew when it would start," "But you never knew when it would finish." "He used to take them to the seashore to play medicine ball," "A sort of gymnastic that was very common in that day," "Just to develop their chest muscles." "In fact, I'm very proud to say" "That his pupil became the solo horn player" "Of the Israel Philharmonic after my father retired." "My teacher, Horst Salomon," "Was a great teacher." "And now in the orchestra" "My students are playing." "A very nice and beautiful girl " "Plays so good." "Horst Salomon," "The teacher of my teacher," "He was a tough guy." "And when the conductor" "Asked the orchestra to play again and again," "He would stand up and say," "Maestro, we only have one lip!" "It's a very special orchestra for me," "And being connected to the generations before " "To Mishori and to Horst Salomon " "Makes me feel that I'm continuing the way." "I'm filled with pride that there is such..." "A legacy behind my sister and me." "My father, Wolfgang," "Studied the violin as a young boy in Germany." "And one day his teacher said to him," "I'm very sorry;" "the new Nazi laws prohibit me" "From teaching you as a Jew." "I'm very sorry, but I will not be able to teach you any more." "The teenager, my father," "Was sent by his mother to Palestine." "He was looking for someone to study with" "And he thought it would be very, very good" "To study with the concert master" "Of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra." "(Mira Haftel Ross) Wolfgang went to my father for violin lessons " "I was very young - and lived with us" "And he basically became part of our family." "My father then auditioned him for the orchestra," "And he became a member of the orchestra," "Where he stayed until his dying day." "(Amnon Valk) He continued the tradition" "With my sister and myself," "And we ended up in the same place " "The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra." "(Zubin Mehta) There is this evolution," "The seeds of culture that Huberman planted here," "That he brought from Central Europe," "We are reaping its rewards today," "And we will continue to reap its rewards" "Huberman's choice for the orchestra's first home" "Was an empty exhibition hall" "In North Tel Aviv - The Levant Pavilion." "The orchestra had to compete with hammers" "And saws as carpenters raced to have the hall ready." "Steinberg rehearsed the orchestra 60 times" "In the two months before Toscanini's arrival." "Construction and the sounds of hammering were so loud," "But we continued playing and rehearsing" "Until almost everybody had the worst headache." "After weeks of this," "Steinberg finally lost his composure" "And in a rare outburst he stopped the rehearsal" "And stormed off the podium" "To tell Huberman this was impossible " "He could not work under these conditions." "Huberman called the workers together," "Asking what overtime they would charge" "To do their renovations at night." "The carpenters told Huberman" "They would charge nothing extra to work at night " "All they wanted was tickets to the first season." "(Toscanini) On arriving in Tel Aviv" "I immediately received the most enthusiastic of welcomes." "It was as if their Messiah had finally arrived." ""Toscanini Fever."" ""What happened in these days"" "Before the Toscanini concerts was not enthusiasm," "But psychosis." "No earthly being can solve" "The fundamental problem of how to distribute 2,000 tickets" ""To 100,000 people who desperately wanted one."" "(Michal Zmora Cohen) The fact that Toscanini" "Was the first conductor of this orchestra" "Is a symbol," "And it set the tone." "It set the level." "Toscanini had traveled from Milan through Alexandria" "And finally onto Tel Aviv" "And started rehearsing the same day he arrived." "(Musician) Of course, everybody was prepared for big speeches," "Or for something;" "but he came on the stage" "And he didn't say anything, no greeting to us - nothing!" "Just two words:" "(Toscanini) Il Brahms." "(Musician) We started to play the first movement," "And he didn't interrupt once." "(Toscanini) I got to work the very same day I arrived." "And I found the orchestra" "Had been well prepared by Maestro Steinberg." "And with little effort I got to do what I wanted." "For most of the musicians," "Playing with Toscanini was the high point in their careers." "(Musician) You never miss your cue when you play with Toscanini." "(Second musician) His beat was like fate." "During the first two movements," "Toscanini was quiet and seemed satisfied." "But at the third movement," "He suddenly screamed in every language he knew." "The orchestra knew he was finally treating them like pros." "He was tough on them, but it made them happy." "Toscanini was colossal." "He screamed his head off!" "And I was there, I heard it." "It was really terrible." "The whole orchestra was afraid of him." "His eyes were brutal." "Fire..." "Can you imagine?" "That must have been scary as anything." "You didn't do anything," "You followed everything he said." "Because he took all" "These concert meisters, you need a super leader." "You cannot have a leader that will be mild." "The musicians were much relieved" "When Toscanini was finally satisfied." "He pushed them hard." "(Musician) I was stunned." "Coming from Germany," "The Berlin Philharmonic was my ideal of perfection." "Not so for Toscanini." "(Yelling)" "(Toscanini) Don't play me Russian marches!" "(Second musician) Communication was a problem." "We didn't understand his Italian, French, or English." "And his German - useless." "Huberman offered a simple idea" "To help him communicate." "Toscanini was rehearsing Saltarello" "From Mendelssohn's Italian Concerto." "Struggling to get the feeling he wanted," "Huberman suggested he dance for them." "The first Toscanini concert in Tel Aviv on December 26th" "Was the grandest cultural event yet seen in Palestine." "In the front row were" "High Commissioner Arthur Wauchope," "Chaim Weizmann, David Ben Gurion, Golda Meier," "And Tel Aviv's Mayor Dizengoff." "While 3,000 lucky ones were waiting in their seats," "Hundreds stood outside hoping to catch some of the music." "()Gina Ginzburg) There was a friend of my mother," "He told me he couldn't get a ticket." "And he said he didn't care" "Where he sits, where he stands," "He must hear some notes." "And that's what he did;" "He went up on a roof and he heard it." ""Women came in brightly colored gowns"" "And heavy jewelry," "Men in suits and ties." "Nobody was in a hurry." "People took their time settling into seats," ""Waving programs at their friends."" "The program:" "A Rossini Overture," "Brahms 2nd Symphony, Schubert Symphony No. 8," "And Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream." "Huberman had refused to play" "Because he wanted the orchestra to be the star." "(Yoram Kaniuk) It was so beautiful." "When they start I remember that..." "You couldn't hear a sound." "I was 6 years old when the orchestra opened." "For me it was like magic." "I was then 10 years old" "And the first time that I heard an orchestra " "And it was a revelation." "This was like an earthquake in the positive meaning." "It was like a breakthrough." "I remember the feeling." "The feeling was of victory." "The concert was such a success" "That everybody talked about it in the newspaper." "This was the talk of the day." "(Huberman) The delirium that overtook" "This country as the first concerts" "Conducted by Toscanini became reality" "Can not be described in words." ""Anybody who went to the Toscanini concert" "Might have imagined he was in Paris, London, or New York."" ""The cultural achievement of this little community" "Of 400,000 Jewish people is remarkable."" "Huberman and Toscanini's goal was this:" "An orchestra of exiled Jews," "Performing music at the very highest level," "Would send a clarion call to the world" "To raise a fist against anti-Semitism," "And to fight Nazism" "With the only weapon they had - their music." "The concert was heard by millions " "Broadcast from Palestine to Cairo," "On to London, then to NBC Radio and all across America." "The last regular concert in Tel Aviv was on January 5th." "And then came Huberman's favorites:" "Workers' Concerts presented in Jerusalem and Haifa" "For 1/5th the regular ticket price." "Within eight days of Toscanini's arrival, 15,000 people had seen rehearsals" "And concerts in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa." ""Germany's loss has been Palestine's gain."" "Mr. Huberman has turned a great calamity" ""Into a unique opportunity."" "(Toscanini) Oh, Huberman, I am so sad" "To leave this orchestra, these wonderful audiences!" "I must come back," "I feel I must come back." "Toscanini did return once more to conduct in 1938," "And in that series Huberman played " "The only time he soloed with his orchestra." "For the next ten years the Palestine Symphony toured" "Throughout the Middle East." "And they played for the Israeli troops" "During the 1948 War of Independence" "That ended with the world acknowledging" "The creation of the sovereign State of Israel." "(Ben Gurion) The State of Israel is hereby created." "This musical composition, Hatikvah," "Is declared our anthem." "That day, the Palestine Symphony played Hatikvah, The Hope," "As the anthem of the State of Israel for the first time," "And Ben Gurion re-named Huberman's symphony," "The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra." "The 29-year-old Leonard Bernstein" "Had conducted the orchestra during the '48 war," "And a musical love affair began" "Between this young American genius" "And Israel's newly named Symphony." "For the next 20 years" "Bernstein took the orchestra everywhere" "And made it one of the most famous in the world." "(Joshua Bell) Growing up, hearing about Huberman as a child " "The first time I came to play" "With the Israel Philharmonic was very special for me." "I had just acquired the Huberman violin," "The violin that was stolen from Huberman," "So there was a lot of whispering at my first rehearsal," "So I felt welcomed by that connection." "Missing for 50 years," "The violin was finally returned to the world," "And Joshua Bell now plays it." "The fact that he played on this" "And his greatness and all the great things he did," "It adds to the magic of getting to play on this every night." "What can I say..." "Huberman - he was a dreamer." "It was a dream." "(Ivry Gitlis) He brought all these" "Wonderful musicians to this God-forsaken country," "At that time anyway - half a desert " "And created one of the great orchestras of the world," "In one piece." "That's something you never heard of," "And never been done again." "At that time it was life or death." "He believed in the music and the power it has" "To unite us as people, as a society." "His legacy was to bring a very strong culture," "And at the same time, to help all these Jews." "Out of all the ones who were exterminated" "It's a small number;" "But for those who lived it's a very big number." "I can only say" "That I am here because of Huberman" "And what he did personally for my family." "So I owe a debt of gratitude that I don't know how to repay." "What he did with this orchestra, this is our victory." "He saved our culture." "He brought back the seed" "For all this Jewish cultural life of today." "And this is something that, I can only say" "That this was his fight against Nazism."