Jaques Lipetz and his family lived in Belgium for many years with his brothers and parents until 1941. Then, he and his family fled to escape persecution. They traveled through France, Spain, and Portugal to arrive in the U.S. But once they got there they were told that they could not stay there, so they traveled back across the pacific on a tramp steamer. They arrived in Manila, a Jewish colony in Europe, in May, 1941. There they endured harsh living conditions.In Jaques words,"The food...after the occupation consisted mainly of rice and fish. For variety we had fish and rice." Then, on December 8, their time, Japan entered the war along with the U.S. with the attack on Pearl Harbor. The war was now a World War. It was a time of anxiety for him and his parents. He was outcast by local Jewish children, saying he was just "Different", and taunted by Nazi children, being called a "Christ Killer. He and his family spent years under Japanese occupation. Food was ever scarcer, and deprivation was becoming worse. After nearly 5five years of turmoil, he and his family were liberated by the Americans in 1945. Among the forces were jewish soldiers wearing Mezuzahs around their necks. The American Soldiers ste up a seder, or festive meal for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover. He says that he still remembers it vividly.
