Film Screening and Discussion: The Return of the Violin

February 1, 2026, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Kehillat Ma’arav
1715 21st St
Santa Monica, CA 90404

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Including a discussion with Cantor Malachi Kanfer, Susanne Reyto and Jonathan Rubin

The Return of the Violin, tells the story of a 1731 Stradivarius once owned by Bronislaw Huberman, the founder of the Palestine Symphony, which later became the Israel Philharmonic, stolen in 1936, rediscovered in 1985; and purchased by American virtuoso Joshua Bell in 2001.

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A holocaust survivor returns to his place of birth, Czestochowa, Poland, to trace his family’s history. Czestochowa is also the birthplace of Bronislaw Huberman, who became one of the great classical musicians of his day. His violin, a priceless Stradivarius, has come to bear his name, was stolen during a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1936. He never saw it again.

Unbroken, he fled to Palestine before World War II, founded the Palestine Symphony, rescuing hundreds of Jewish musicians from death in Nazi Europe and was hailed as a hero before he died.

Fifty years later, his beloved violin surfaces when the man who stole it makes a deathbed confession. The instrument is sold twice and finally acquired by superstar Jewish performer, Joshua Bell, for a jaw-dropping $4 million.

Joshua Bell returns to Czestochowa, where it all began, to perform the previous owner’s favorite concerto by Brahms.  The documentary prominently features Brahm’s Violin Concerto in D major, op. 77. 

A film combining history, personal story of tragedy and triumph, culminating in the resurfacing of the lost violin, now owned and played by Joshua Bell.

ALL ARE WELCOME. THIS EVENT IS COMPLIMENTARY. PLEASE RSVP WITH THE LINK BELOW.