Page 16 - Boca ViewPointe - September '22

Page 16, Viewpointe September 2022
An Extraordinary End To A Holocaust Survivor’s Search

For the better part of Lipetz family story begins
his adult life, Holocaust in Belgium, with subsequent
survivor Eric Lipetz chapters including Spain,
searched for a family Morocco, and Portugal, as
member of the late Colonel they fled the Nazis. Lipetz,
John R. Hall, Jr. his parents and two older
Hall was the Army brothers – secured passage to
Medical Corps member America with the help of his
Lipetz credits with saving father’s brother. Their visas
his family’s life following were temporary, however, and
the end of World War II. they were forced to leave the
Lipetz’s search recently U.S. due to a Jewish quota.
ended, when retired FBI His uncle’s business enabled
agent and friend Vince the family to board a ship
Pankoke located Hall’s son, Eric Lipetz holding a framed bound for Manila, Philippines,
Rogers Hall, in Tennessee. photograph of the late Colonel then an American protectorate,
Lipetz and Hall came face- John R. Hall, Jr., who helped which was safer for Jews than
to-face on August 14, 2022, to liberate his family, following Belgium. They arrived prior to (l-r) Margaret Lipetz, Karen Hall, Eric Lipetz, Rogers Hall, Roneet Edrich, Vince Pankoke
for a heartfelt reunion, on World War II. the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
the Jewish Federation of At first, the family lived in an apartment, but were sent to Once in America, Lipetz started school at age 10, went to
South Palm Beach County campus during a special program, a prison camp. They were released when Eric’s father’s bristle college, served in the U.S. Army, and worked on Wall Street.
arranged by the March of the Living, Southern Region. The business was seen as beneficial to the war effort. The elder He became a citizen, married, had three children, and is the
Lipetz, Hall and Pankoke families were in attendance. Lipetz knew the bristles of brushes made to clean guns could grandfather of five.
The March of the Living, Southern Region, a program of the be crafted to cause rifles to misfire after a few uses and shared “Eric is actively involved in the March of the Living Southern
Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, connects local this knowledge with Filipino guerillas. The family was relocated Region, a proud program of the Jewish Federation of South Palm
survivors with students, young adults and each other, so that to the outskirts of town providing them with a house for safety, Beach County, where he shares his testimony with students,” said
the Holocaust is never forgotten and ultimately, never repeated. but food was scarce, bombings were frequent and serious illness Roneet Edrich, director of the program. “First-hand testimony
Hall presented Eric Lipetz with a photograph of his father in was rampant. But the family was committed to surviving – or makes history come alive. We are so grateful to Eric and the
uniform, which will join existing memorabilia in the Lipetz perishing – together. other survivors in our community for generously sharing their
home, including a letter the Colonel wrote to Lipetz relatives in testimony.”
Deepest thanks to Boca Pointe Federation Campaign
America, and a photograph of his headstone. Bringing history to life Chairs: Jane and Dan Fishkoff, and to Committee Members:
A complicated journey with a through the eyes of a survivor Rhoda Berkow, Allen Brayer, Daniel Fischer, Richard Glazer

happy ending A medical convoy of American soldiers led by Colonel John & Elaine Kaplan, Bea Gold, Harold Katz, Joel Meisner, Arlene
Penner, Murray Pitkowsky, Mel Schoen, Doris & Stuart Zeuner,
R. Hall, Jr. made its way into the town where the Lipetz family for their continued dedication and leadership.
“I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to thank Rogers was living. The convoy stopped by their house, and Mr. and Mrs. If you or a neighbor are in need of help, please contact Ruth
– and the entire Hall family – in person,” said Lipetz, who Lipetz shared their story. This is where the lifelong friendship & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services at 561-852-3333. In
is an active participant in March of the Living. “Colonel with Colonel Hall, and the Lipetz family began. Colonel Hall was addition, our main Federation telephone number, 561-852-3100,
Hall came into our lives as Manila was liberated from the instrumental in helping the Lipetz family attain visas to come to is monitored regularly for voicemail messages.
Philippines and was instrumental in making sure we had the United States after the war. Hall’s family was unaware of his Learn more about our Federation and how you can help at
enough food, were healthy and got to the United States. He role in assisting the Lipetz family and others in the Philippines www.jewishboca.org - or contact Shirley Gross at shirleyg@
was our ‘angel’.” until speaking with Pankoke. bocafed.org or 561.852.3182 (leave a voicemail). 