Holocaust survivor who lives in Coral Springs shares powerful memories of fleeing Nazis and surviving war
Coral Springs, Florida – With a voice full of emotion and a story rooted in pain, survival, and determination, Holocaust survivor and Coral Springs resident Eric Lipetz stood before the City Commission on April 17 to share the journey that shaped his life and his unwavering spirit. At the meeting, the city also issued a proclamation recognizing April 24, 2025, as Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah), honoring the memory of six million Jews and countless others who perished under Nazi rule.
“I am here today because of bravery, luck, and faith,” Lipetz said as he reflected on his family’s desperate flight from persecution and the narrow escapes that allowed them to survive one of history’s darkest periods.
Born in Antwerp, Belgium, on October 31, 1936, Lipetz was just a young boy when the shadow of Nazi Germany fell across Europe. His father, Abraham, recognized the looming threat early and refused to ignore the signs many others overlooked. “He knew war was coming,” Lipetz said. “He knew we had to get out.”
As Nazi forces tightened their grip on Europe, the Lipetz family began a harrowing escape that would lead them across borders, through occupied territories, and into an uncertain future. Eric recounted how his father made the dangerous decision to return to Nazi-controlled Antwerp to retrieve diamonds stored in a bank — a bold move that nearly cost him his life. Speaking German fluently, Abraham managed to navigate through Gestapo checkpoints with calm nerves and a quick wit.
From Belgium, the family’s journey led them to the Philippines, where they hoped for safety far from the horrors of war-torn Europe. But peace was short-lived. In 1941, Japanese forces invaded Manila, and the Lipetz family once again found themselves under foreign occupation.
Eric’s memories of that time are filled with both fear and awe at his father’s courage. “He always found a way to get us through,” he said. Abraham was arrested and held by Japanese soldiers but managed to escape by offering his final pack of cigarettes to a guard. Though constantly under threat, he continued to resist — taking a job cleaning Japanese rifles and secretly sabotaging the weapons with the help of Filipino guerrilla fighters. “He was risking his life every day,” Eric said. “But he never stopped trying to help the resistance.”
Life under occupation was brutal. The family endured starvation, illness, and the relentless stress of never knowing what would come next. Still, they clung to hope. In one particularly vivid memory, Lipetz described how he and his brothers climbed a church steeple and watched as American tanks and jeeps rolled toward the city. “We saw the tanks, the jeeps, the soldiers — it was like seeing angels,” he said.
Now living in Coral Springs, Lipetz carries the weight of history with him but also a message for the future. His story is one of survival against all odds and a reminder that even in the darkest times, bravery and resilience can light the way forward.
As the city honors Holocaust Remembrance Day, Lipetz’s testimony serves as a powerful call to never forget the atrocities of the past and to ensure that future generations learn from them. His life is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of standing up against hatred, no matter the cost.
The City of Coral Springs encourages all residents to reflect on the lessons of the Holocaust, to honor its victims, and to recognize the survivors who continue to share their stories — not just to preserve memory, but to build a better, more compassionate world.
