Aron Heller is an American/Canadian/Israeli writer and broadcaster based in Israel, and a former longtime Associated Press correspondent in Jerusalem has written this important record of Canadian Jewry’s contribution to both World War II and the founding of Israel.
A forgotten chapter of history is brought to life in Aron Heller’s powerful new book, Zaidy’s Band (New Jewish Press, University of Toronto Press, November 11, 2025, $27.95). What begins as Heller’s personal quest to solve the mystery of his 100-year-old Jewish Canadian grandfather’s wartime past soon becomes a moving journey across continents and generations.
Through eight journeys from Israel to Toronto—and an extensive web of correspondence and interviews—Heller uncovers the remarkable journeys of a “band of brothers”: Jewish Canadian soldiers who served in World War II, whose stories have remained largely untold. From miraculous escapes and devastating losses to quiet acts of courage and unexpected reconnections, Zaidy’s Band reveals not only extraordinary heroism, but also the emotional complexities, silences, and generational traumas that profoundly impacted these men and their families.
Part memoir, part historical biography, and part mystery, Zaidy’s Band weaves together the stories of exceptional figures—from daring pilots and heroes to Holocaust survivors who fought for Israel’s independence. The book also chronicles the turbulent effort to establish a museum in Israel dedicated to the 1.5 million Jewish soldiers who fought in World War II.
A powerful tribute to a generation of veterans whose experiences have rarely been shared, Heller’s deeply personal journey brings to light dozens of previously unknown accounts, revealing how even the humblest acts of wartime service helped shape a generation and left a lasting imprint on their families. Their voices, once nearly lost to history, echo with relevance as the Jewish community continues to confront antisemitism today.
Zaidy’s Band: The Untold Stories of a Jewish Band of Brothers in World War II is available for purchase at utpublishing.com and major book retailers. (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indigo and more).
