Joe’s Violin, a short documentary that was nominated for an Oscar, features Joseph Feingold, a Holocaust survivor who lives at The Esplanade on 74th Street and West End Avenue.
It’s a touching story about Feingold’s decision to donate the violin he bought when he lived in a displaced person’s camp after World War II. The director is Kahane Cooperman. You can watch the documentary below. The Oscars air on Sunday night.
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Thanks for sharing this. FYI, The Esplanade is now known as 305 West End Avenue. It was sold in the Fall.
Beautiful.
Isn’t this what the world should be about…simple humanity at its best. I so enjoyed this.
Beautiful! Very special people involved, including the organizations, NPR and Mr. Holland’s.
This is lovely and powerful. Thank you for this moving tribute to the true spirit of New Yorkers.
And Libby Wildes who lives on 79th St is executive producer of O.J. : Made in America, a feature documentary also nominated.
Sweet child; sweet old man (may they live and be well). Never went through a box of tissues so quickly. Fascinating that at 6:08 the teacher (or maybe principal) said “Holocaust survivor,” seemingly without a need for explanation. If the kids indeed understood what she meant, the school is educating them about more than music alone. So much of the globe was covered by this beautiful story: Latin America, Poland, Japan, Germany, Russia, Norway, and the U.S. When will we return to our senses about immigration?
“Break a leg”. Some of my family of origin suffered during WW2. There was a shop in Central Harlem, which seemed to be a shop re Violas. Shaloha.
What an incredible story.
Shows the human spirit, compassion and the
learning that can take place…
immigrant to immigrant.
Take a few minutes to see this.
I’ll have my fingers crossed for its win Sunday night! Great story…(and truly, each story behind each instrument has historical value…)
thanks so much for this!
Thank you WSR for sharing this.
I’ve now forwarded the link to many people and hoping they love the film as much as I did.
Joe’s Violin is an amazing documentary film. I know the film director, Kahane Corn Kooperman and my son worked on the music. It is a must see!!
Such a tribute to humanity and the human spirit. Two magnificently beautiful people – simple, warm real, admirable – shining examples of the best of human nature. Hope Joe’s violin is joined by an Oscar. The highlight: when the girl tells Joe:”You never gave up. That’s what you did.” This is a very special young perswon – she will make her mark in the world, and on all who are privileged to know her.
I know this beautiful man Joe Feingold. He wins my Oscar for his incredible life, his modest, but strong voice and and his unshakeable giving spirit.
Beartiful — I will forward this to myfamily and friends.
Thank you for this very touching story.
Beautiful! I cried.
touching
What a moving and beautiful antidote to the seemingly endless assaults on our national we’ll-being.
Thank you.
This is such a heart warming story. Thank you!
That the violin should end up in the hands of a young girl of such intelligence, feeling, love and appreciation of music and history is a wonderful event in itself. What an extraordinary heroine she is and her family and her school and teachers and yes, even WQXR.
Take that, Donald Trump!
A wonderful story and film—would that every music student / every violin student in the city could see it and understand the importance of music not only to survival but also as a key to a life worth living. Both the giver of the violin and the young recipient are among those who make the world a better place for all.
So touching! A wonderful story!
This film is so inspiring!! More of this!
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I just want to share this public service announcement with all of you!
I have four kids, and all of them are in music classes, lessons, etc. For the last couple of years, I have tried a couple of companies for getting all the instruments for my kids music programs, and I have been more or less not extremely happy about the service from any of them. This year, I switched to Rayburn Music NYC, and let me tell you—the service is over the top. It is like having my own musical instrument concierge! The Rayburn Musical Instrument Director himself will come directly to the school or my home and bring the instruments—then, if anything goes wrong, he will again come to my home immediately and take care of the problem. One of my kids wanted to switch instruments mid-year, and there was no problem with that either! How much does this level of service cost—you might be thinking? Rayburn Music NYC is actually cheaper than any of the other providers—there are no extra charges for any of the exceptional services they provide. If something breaks—they just bring you a new one. It is truly amazing.
I don’t usually do stuff like this, but I have been so impressed by my experience with Rayburn Music NYC, that I would honestly recommend that you send back whatever you are currently using, and switch to Rayburn. Did you know that they have been the neighborhood music store in NYC for 73 years? They really understand how NYC works, and they have great quality instruments as well. You can call my musical instrument Buttler right now: 917-242-0107. His name is Tod Rainey, and he is wonderful. Rayburn Music NYC is on the UWS, so the service is extremely fast in Manhattan.
Didn’t their NYC store close?
a story of two courageous souls who reach each other through the power of music and a violin regardless of age and origin. such a powerful, haunting, inspiring tale.