Peretz was among the prominent figures of the Zionist underground. He came from an educated Jewish family. His father was a lawyer. Peretz studied medicine but, in 1938, before he could finish his studies in the University of Bratislava, he had to interrupt them. He was an excellent sportsman and the Slovak champion in the 100 meter race.
Peretz joined the “Gordonia Maccabi Hatzair” movements and in 1941 became a member of the leadership. When the deportations of Jews from Slovakia started in 1942, he assisted in the escape to Hungary of members of the movement. Peretz himself was caught, managed to escape and, with his wife, Noemi-Nonika, slipped across the border into Hungary and arrived in Budapest. Equipped with letters from the Slovak Zionist institutions asking for help for the refugees, Peretz applied to the Jewish institutions in Budapest but his request was denied. He made contact with comrades from his movement, especially Joel Brand, and worked for the Relief and Rescue Committee.
In 1943 he became a member of the tiyul committee that dealt with the smuggling of Jews from Poland. After the Germans invaded Hungary on 19.3.1944, the Zionist Youth underground was even more active and Peretz was one of its leaders. He established connections with the heads of the neutral states’ organizations, initiated and took part in rescue operations. After the liberation Peretz continued with his diverse activities for the movement as well as his public work amidst his comrades and the remaining refugees. He took care of Jewish children and sent them to Eretz Israel (Palestine). He was active in the B’riha.
In May 1949 Peretz made aliya. He founded and managed an educational institute. He is a member of Kibbutz Kfar Hamaccabi. In his book “Facing Evil Waves” (Maarehet Kibbutz Dalia ublishing House, 2002) he describes his life story and actions.
