Overview

In Zaidy's Band, Aron Heller chronicles his extensive journey with his grandfather Mickey Heller his Zaidy to uncover Mickey's mysterious wartime past and the untold stories of his Jewish Canadian band of brothers. Through many trips, calls, and emails to his Zaidy, Heller uncovers dozens of previously unknown stories of lost friendships, personal tragedies, acts of heroism, and emotional reunions. These men played key roles in the defining events of their time fighting against Nazism and contributing to the establishment of Israel. Their voices, however, are not mere relics of the past. The dilemmas they faced faith, belonging, courage, and sacrifice continue to resonate today. Part memoir, part historical biography, and part mystery, Zaidy's Band reveals how even the humblest acts of World War II service shaped a generation of men and left a lasting impact on their families for years to come.

Full Product Details

Author:   Aron Heller
Publisher:   University of Toronto Press
Imprint:   New Jewish Press
Dimensions:   Width: 14.00cm , Height: 2.20cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.320kg
ISBN:  

9781487561185

ISBN 10:   1487561180
Pages:   326
Publication Date:   11 November 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  Professional and scholarly ,  General ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Preface: The Mission and the Journey The Zaidy 1. Mickey Heller, My Grandfather The Dakota 2. Wilf Canter, the Great Escapist 3. Fred Stevensen, the Devoted Wingman 4. Willie Fisher, the Zionist Navigator 5. Leon Lightman, the Idealistic Airman 6. Michael Wiemers, the King of the Negev 7. The Dakota Revisited The Canadians 8. Somer James, the Reluctant War Hero 9. Alfred Brenner, the Man in the Flying Suitcase 10. Zaidy’s Band of Brothers, the Jewish Canadian Soldiers The Museum 11. Zvi Kan-Tor, the General on a Mission 12. Machal, the Foreign Volunteers 13. Smoky Simon, the South African Witness The Hellers 14. Samuel Heller, the First World War Veteran Father 15. Mickey Heller, a Veteran’s Journey Revealed Epilogue: The Grandson, Me Acknowledgments Notes Resources

Reviews

“In this fascinating historical dive, Aron Heller uses his years of journalistic experience on his own family, skillfully unraveling the untold stories of Canadian boys thrown into the most horrific days of the twentieth century. Zaidy’s Band is a dramatic portrait of a dark time, and of a few ordinary men who helped save the world and didn’t want to talk about it.” -- Matti Friedman, author of <em>Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story of a Forgotten War</em> “With the skill of a journalist and the warmth of a grandson, Aron Heller has written a tender portrait of a man and his band of brothers – Jewish men who fought for the allies in World War II. For me, this book was not only an excellent history lesson but also a poignant reminder to learn from those we love while we still have them in our lives.” -- Ari L. Goldman, Professor Emeritus, School of Journalism, Columbia University and author of <em>The Search for God at Harvard</em> “Zaidy’s Band is a personal odyssey, an investigative tour de force, and a window into a vanishing era – but most of all, it is a set of engaging and deftly told stories whose themes resonate all too clearly in today’s world.” -- Alex Hutchinson, <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of <em>Endure</em> and <em>The Explorer’s Gene</em> “Finally, a book has arrived that gives these Jewish soldiers the long overdue, yet never fully recognized, respect that they so rightfully deserve. The author’s intimate journey with his Zaidy, and many others like him, carries forward a powerful message of pride and the Jewish mantra to make this world a better place for all people.” -- Nancy Spielberg, Producer and President, Playmount Productions “With humor, wit, and pathos, Aron Heller tells a largely unknown story of Jewish heroism in the air in the struggle to defeat Nazism. In these times, it is a story that is well worth repeating.” -- David Jay Bercuson, Professor of History, University of Calgary, author of <em>The Secret Army</em>, and Officer, Order of Canada “Despite the author’s formidable journalistic interviewing skills, it was his self-deprecating World War II veteran grandfather Mickey Heller who for years remained his most elusive subject. But with persistence and dogged research, Aron Heller eventually managed to paint a nuanced yet colorful portrait of what motivated his Zaidy and a band of his compatriots to leave their homes in Canada and fight Hitler. Some later volunteered to help Israel’s ragtag army repel five Arab armies in that country’s 1948 War of Independence. The author also chronicles that service and notably unpacks the mystery of a long-overlooked crew of unsung heroes whose stories have largely been ignored.” -- Ellin Bessner, author of <em>Double Threat: Canadian Jews, the Military and World War II</em> “In his moving account of his search for his grandfather’s World War II past, Aron Heller ponders the gaps in his knowledge about his Zaidy’s history. How well do we know our own kin? And what do we know exactly? Piecing together shards of information, a key issue surfaces, all too relevant today: the deep patriotism of minority group members – so deep that it prompts them to take up arms.” -- Debórah Dwork, author of <em>Saints and Liars: The Story of Americans Who Saved Refugees from the Nazis</em> “Many of us wonder what our grandparents were like in their primes. But few make the effort to find out. In Zaidy’s Band, Aron Heller goes above and beyond in this difficult mission with a heartfelt tale that is a memoir, and history and mystery book all in one. The result is a deep appreciation for Mickey Heller and a fascinating glimpse of a forgotten group of comrades who played unlikely roles in defeating the Nazis and shaping the modern Middle East."" -- Josef Federman, Deputy Middle East News Director, The Associated Press “The Greatest Generation that defeated fascism in World War II was not limited to one nation. Nor was the specific experience of Jewish soldiers, whose service and sacrifice also meant to rescue their European brethren. In this lucid, informative, and deeply honest book, Aron Heller tells the Canadian version of both of those narratives. Heller may have started with the narrower mission of discovering the wartime experiences of his beloved yet evasive grandfather Mickey, but in the end he paints a broader portrait of valor and purpose by tens of thousands of Canadian Jewish soldiers.” -- Samuel G. Freedman, author of <em>Jew vs. Jew</em> and Professor Emeritus, School of Journalism, Columbia University “From breadcrumbs of personal information about Mickey Heller, his grandson, Aron Heller, provides us with a feast of history, telling the story of his Zaidy and of Canadian Jews who risked their lives to fly and fight against the Nazi regime in World War II and for the nascent State of Israel in 1948. This book reads like a detective novel, with family insights and international intrigue, as Aron Heller tries to convince his grandfather to disclose personal memories of his World War II experience. We learn that for many who put on a uniform, the ‘most impressive feat was to have endured.’” -- Baruch Frydman-Kohl, Rabbi Emeritus, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto and Member, Order of Canada. “Aron Heller masterfully brings to life the courage of a small band of Jewish brothers who stood up to Nazi Germany, while at the same time paying moving tribute to his own grandfather.” -- Yaakov Katz, author of <em>Shadow Strike</em> and co-author of <em>While Israel Slept</em> ""Beautifully written and illustrated with rare photographs and documents, Aron Heller’s book begins as a deeply personal quest to better understand his grandfather, a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II. It unfolds into a powerful exploration of forgotten heroes: the Jewish soldiers and officers who fought in the war. With the curiosity and rigor of an investigative journalist, Heller retraces the lives of his grandfather and his comrades – their service, their friendships, and their enduring role in building and sustaining peace. This is history at its finest: rooted in human stories yet illuminating a broader historical narrative."" -- Anna Shternshis, J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Chair in Jewish Studies, University of Toronto

Author Information

Aron Heller is an Israel-based reporter, writer, columnist, and broadcaster. He focuses on technology storytelling and podcasting, and was previously a longtime Associated Press correspondent and journalism lecturer. He has covered ten Israeli elections, four Mideast wars, and dozens of other major world events across five continents.

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