Michael Lipiner grew up in Plainview listening to his grandfather Alexander Taub's stories about being a Holocaust survivor of Schachendorf, a labor camp for which virtually no information exists.

Taub originates from a rural Hungarian town which little has been written about. Taub accidentally escaped from a labor camp in Schachendorf, Austria. He weighed 75 pounds at the time and built a wall around himself to contend with his losses in his life. He met his first wife after the war, and she died 20 years ago. He remarried, but has lost a lot in his life, according to Lipiner, as he lost a lot of family in the war.

Taub used street smarts and intuition to become a successful business entrepreneur after coming to this country with his $4 in his pocket and not knowing how to speak a word of English. He is now retired.

Lipiner realized how much he enjoyed his grandfather's stories and thought others would as well. He wrote Magyar, Stars & Stripes, which was published by iUniverse, to recount his grandfather's story.

The book contains many documents and photos to follow Taub's journey. Most of the book is written verbatim through Taub's broken English and, according to Lipiner, readers will be drawn to his strong conviction in America's vast opportunities.

Úquot;My grandfather has very thick skin and is very open about his experiences,Úquot; said Lipiner. Úquot;He is a very loving grandfather and father.Úquot;

Taub was very happy when he read his grandson's book. Úquot;He smiled and gave me a kiss,Úquot; said Lipiner.

Lipiner, a 1993 graduate of POBJFKHS, met his wife Tal Singer in Israel. He is an English teacher in Long Island City and teaches sixth-and seventh-graders. He lives on Long Island with his wife.

Úquot;I value tolerance education as one of the most important things that students can learn,Úquot; said Lipiner. Úquot;I always try and teach students how to accept other people - especially those who are different. I enjoy the New York City school system and always include multicultural studies in class.

Magyar, Stars & Stripes is available through amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.