Zaidy's Band

The Untold Stories of a Jewish Band of Brothers in World War II

Aron Heller (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

326 Seiten

2025
New Jewish Press (Verlag)
978-1-4875-6118-5 (ISBN)

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This book traces journalist Aron Heller’s decade-long journey to uncover his Jewish Canadian grandfather’s World War II service, revealing the remarkable individuals and storylines he encountered along the way.

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.

Aron Heller is an Israel-based reporter, writer, columnist, and broadcaster. He focuses on technology storytelling and podcasting, and was previously a long-time 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.

List of Photos
Preface

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 Weimers, 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 World War I Veteran Father
15. Mickey Heller, a Veteran’s Journey Revealed

Epilogue: The Grandson, Me

Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography

Erscheinungsdatum	13.11.2025
Zusatzinfo	53 illustrations
Sprache	englisch
Maße	140 x 216 mm
Gewicht	320 g
Themenwelt	Literatur ► Biografien / Erfahrungsberichte
	Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► 1918 bis 1945
	Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Kulturgeschichte
	Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Militärgeschichte
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung
ISBN-10	1-4875-6118-0 / 1487561180
ISBN-13	978-1-4875-6118-5 / 9781487561185
Zustand	Neuware