Toronto, ON – September 15, 2025 – 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 Jewish Canadian grandfather’s wartime past soon becomes a moving journey across continents and generations.
Through eight trips 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 and 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 for years to come. Their voices, once nearly lost to history, echo with relevance as the Jewish community continues to confront antisemitism today.
“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 Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story of a Forgotten War.
“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 The Search for God at Harvard
“Zaidy’s Band is a personal odyssey, an investigative tour de force, and a window into a vanishing era—but most of all, it’s a set of engaging and deftly told stories whose themes resonate all too clearly in today’s world.” – ALEX HUTCHINSON, New York Times bestselling author of Endure and The Explorer’s Gene
“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
Zaidy’s Band: The Untold Stories of a Jewish Band of Brothers in World War II is available for purchase at utppublishing.com and major book retailers. Learn more about Aron Heller at aronheller.com.