Germany, circa 1898
The story of this violin—and the man who played it—joined the Violins of Hope family only recently, in Louisville, Kentucky. Paul Leeser’s daughter, Linda, had always known her father was a violinist, yet she never heard him play. After his passing in 1981, his violin remained tucked away in a closet for decades—quiet, waiting for the right moment to be heard again.
That moment came in 2025, when Violins of Hope luthier Avshalom Weinstein visited Louisville for a series of programs. Linda Leeser brought him her father’s violin, along with a treasured photo album documenting his life. Both have since become part of the Violins of Hope exhibition, ensuring Paul’s story will continue to inspire new audiences.
Born in Hanborn, Germany, in 1921, Paul Leeser and his family immigrated to the United States in 1937, as antisemitic persecution in Germany intensified. He went on to study mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati and later accepted a position in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
When World War II erupted, Paul enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces. Fluent in German, he served heroically behind enemy lines during the final stages of the war. The memorabilia displayed alongside his violin—on loan from his daughter—includes original wartime artifacts and photographs that have never before been exhibited.
Paul’s violin, crafted in Germany around 1898, bears the marks of age: a small crack in the wood and fraying bowstrings. These will soon be lovingly restored in Israel, where the instrument will join its counterparts in the Violins of Hope collection.
