Aron Heller: 1.5 million-strong Jewish band of brothers

In this poignant episode of What Matters Now, host Amanda Borchel-Dan interviews author and journalist Aaron Heller about his debut book, Zadie's Band: The Untold Stories of a Jewish Band of Brothers. The book is a deeply personal and historical exploration of Heller's grandfather, Mickey Heller, a Canadian Jewish navigator in World War II Bomber Command, whose wartime experiences were long shrouded in silence. Through a decade-long journey of interviews and research, Heller uncovers not only his grandfather's story but also the broader, overlooked legacy of 1.5 million Jewish soldiers who fought across all Allied fronts during WWII—250,000 of whom died in battle. The narrative weaves together themes of heroism, trauma, survival, and the complex evolution of Jewish identity in the 20th century, particularly in relation to Israel’s founding and the shifting memory of Yom HaShoah. Heller reflects on how the Holocaust narrative in Israel evolved from one of resistance to victimhood and back again, emphasizing the need to recognize the resilience and quiet heroism of soldiers and survivors alike. The episode also highlights the overlooked contributions of foreign volunteers like Michael Weimers, the 'King of the Negev,' whose critical role in supplying the besieged Negev during Israel’s War of Independence helped turn the tide of the war.