Zaidy's War: Four Armies, Three Continents, Two Brothers. One Man's Impossible Story of Endurance

by Martin Bodek

Benzion Malik was on a path of discovery. He was keen to learn about everything in life through the teachings of his faith and only something cataclysmic could throw him off this course. In 1939, the 21-year-old Benzion was called up to the Romanian Army. Little did he know that he would not be a free man until 1945.

During six long years, Benzion served in three further armies. He was forced into hard labor and was constantly abused because of his Jewishness by the Hungarian army. He was then made to serve the German army which simply needed disposable bodies to be targets for Soviet bullets. Finally, the Soviet army needed young men like Benzion to help with the effort to fight the Nazis.

None of these acts of service and servitude were easy. Benzion was in a continuous dance with death but clung to life through the goodness of strangers. When WWII was over, Benzion had to make the 2,600-kilometer walk home and narrowly escaped being poisoned to death by mushroom soup. At home he was confronted with the ruins of his family, community, and people. Yet, he was not defeated.

Lovingly written by his grandson, this book provides an account of a man's resilience to not give up on the world after extreme destruction, but instead to help rebuild a community and practice Tikkun Olam - Repairing of the World - by believing in cosmic justice and leaving an imprint on his family, friends, and strangers for generations.

Genres: War, History, Holocaust, Nonfiction, Historical, Biography Memoir, World War II

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2022

About the author

Martin Bodek is co-founder of TheKnish.com - a Jewish version of The Onion. He is the beat reporter for JrunnersClub.org, an emerging Brooklyn-based organization for athletes. He researches surnames for Jewishworldreview.com (e-mail onsurnames@gmail.com with yours and he'll do the legwork for you!). He has been writing freelance for more than 15 years for The Denver Post, The Washington Times, The Jewish Press, bangitout.com and other sites and media outlets as well as Germany's only weekly Jewish newspaper, The Judische Allgemeine. He was born and raised in the wilds of Brooklyn, New York, has worked most of his life in the badlands of New York City and settled in the jungles of northern New Jersey with his strong wife and three above average children. As you can tell, he wants to be a writer if and when he grows up.

Reviews

[Darya Silman · Rating 3 out of 5]

#Holocaust #WW2

Deeply personal story of survival and hope despite the unbearable conditions.

Zaidy's War: Four Armies, Three Continents, Two Brothers. One Man's Impossible Story of Endurance by Martin Bodek can become an incredible plot for a Hollywood movie. It's a book about serving in Romanian, Hungarian, German, and Russian armies during WW2, staying alive through starvation and hard work, and, after the war, living with the knowledge that almost all your relatives were killed in Auschwitz. The book covers the lives of Benzion and Eliezer Malik, two Romanian Jews whose family perished during the Holocaust. By focusing on one family's perspective, the book describes Jewish everyday life, rooted in centuries-long traditions, before the war and how this life was disregarded during the war. WW2, like any other major conflict, brought everything dirty on the surface, resulting even in authorized cannibalism in a Russian military camp, as per Zaidy's words.

However, the book's strength as an undeniable, raw testimonial to Holocaust and war atrocities is leavened by the material's presentation. Half of the book contains the story of two brothers, mainly Zaidy's, transcribed from tape recordings by Zaidy's grandson Martin Bodek. While the book stylistically starts as a fairytale, it quickly descends into an easy-to-read, conversational narrative, sometimes bordering on a plain retelling of Zaidy's words. The second part is the word-by-word record of the tapes, with all inconsistencies and family chit-chat. As a layperson, who loves memoirs, I swallowed the first part very quickly; the second part just repeated the first. Still, I believe that we need to collect stories like Zaidy's to stop the coming of WW3.

Let the world learn - and never forget - the name, the life, and the legacy of Benzion ben Reb Aharon Malik.

I received an advance review copy through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the writer of this book, I'm certainly qualified to claim that I have read it. Matter of fact, I must have read and re-read each rewrite multiples of times. Therefore, I give myself permission to give the book a rating, as I would any other book I've read and recorded the reading here.

While I'm at it, I owe myself some commentary to entice you, dear reader, to read what I've written. In order to not bias you one way or the other, I won't comment on the quality of the book, but rather on the work that went into it, and you can judge for yourselves.

I put my heart and soul into it; I spent 19 years honing it; I spent 2 whole years translating the original Yiddish VHS recording into English; I did more research on this than I did on anything else I ever did research on in my life; I read all the seminal holocaust memoirs I could get my hands on; I seasoned myself as a writer by publishing my first 10 books before I dared to venture to do something this important; I'm extremely proud of it; The book is my "Yad Vashem" contribution to my grandfather, my family, and Holocaust Memory.

I hope you get out of it what I put it into it.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I found myself almost right there with him! Thank you!!!

[Yitz Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, great writing and great story! Loved it! This was definitely a work of the heart and it came through with every word.

[E.G. Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a while since I’ve read a story, fiction or non-fiction, about World War II. Mostly because a lot of the books I review happen to be in the fantasy genre (though I read everything, it just happened that a lot of fantasy authors signed up all at once), but also because these stories really hit hard. But I think they are very important stories and should be told, so when I got the opportunity to read Martin Bodek’s Zaidy’s War, an account of his grandfather’s time during the war, I was very keen indeed.

1. Thoughts on the plot
This book follows Benzion “Zaidy” Malik, a Hungarian Hassidic Jew who was conscripted into the Hungarian army on behalf of the Germans during WWII. The story follows Zaidy as he crosses continents, joints multiple armies, faces down potential canibalism, treks 2600 kilometers, and settles in new lands. Without getting too much into the plot, because it is deep, and I don’t want to spoil it, I can say this is a story about bravery, staunch faith, and determination. It also is not an easy read, because this topic in general is just a hard one to explore. Still, it is well written, well organised, and worth a read.

2. Thoughts on the characters
It can be difficult, sometimes, in non-fiction pieces to really get to know a character, simply because they often focus on events rather than personal interactions. However, I think this book does well at expressing Zaidy’s reactions to the events in such a way that lets the reader know exactly what sort of man Zaidy is. It is impressive and difficult, especially given the style in which the story is written—facts and events placed first, with people as facilitators of those events.
I will say that some of the other people in the story do not always come through as clearly as Zaidy, but that is understandable.

3. Favourite part
The description of Zaidy’s home life in Hungary was fascinating, and a very good foundation for the rest of the book. I think it coloured things perfectly and gave a lovely undertone of hope for the people moving through the story.

4. Critique
My only real critique is not really a critique so much as a point of confusion. I received this book in hardcover to read for review, and it is well formatted and crafted, but the actual story only takes up about half of the book. Now, I know that non-fiction pieces require a fair amount of reference material, but I was surprised at how much reference material was actually included in the book. (For example, the original transcripts of the author’s interview with Zaidy.) I know this is common in academic pieces, but I was not aware that it was necessary in trade non-fiction pieces. If I am mistaken, then obviously I need to read more non-fiction pieces! But be aware that the story only takes up about half the pages.

Overall, I would say that Zaidy’s War was a very impactful piece of literature about a man’s journey through the perils and trials of WWII. I think it was well written, crafted finely, and definitely worth a read.

[Teri M Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zaidy's War by Martin Bodek is a Holocaust family memoir you won't want to miss. As Martin said in his preface, the stories his grandfather told him about his time during the war always sounded more like a super-hero adventure story. However, as he grew older, he realized that these stories were far more and needed preserving. Without a doubt, his grandfather would be so proud of the book and grateful that Martin found a way to keep the memories of the Jewish plight alive.

Zaidy is an amazing man who loved religious learning, his family, and freedom. Yet, due to Hitler and his desire for ethnic cleansing, Zaidy could have easily lost everything he loved. And when he made it through the other side of the war, he could have easily lost his humanity. And yet, what we find is a man who pushed forward, helped his community rebuild, fell in love, worked hard for his family, moved not once but twice in order to provide the stability his family needed, and continued to follow his religious principles throughout his life. It is no wonder Martin grew up thinking his grandfather was so amazing - it is because it was true.

In today's world, where antisemitism is strong and there are many who claim the Holocaust didn't happen, books such as Zaidy's War are beyond valuable. These stories could ultimately stop something like the extermination of entire Jewish communities from happening again. Buy this book. Read this book. And then determine what you can do to begin to right the wrongs you see happening in your own communities.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing which struck me most about this book, and which will stay with me the longest, is the evident love for his grandfather with which the author has imbued every page: love, pride and huge affection. It was worth reading for this alone.

Zaidy's War is one entry in the publisher's project to provide a record of and repository for Holocaust testimony, as memorial for those who were lost, for those dwindling few who survived, and to stand witness against the pernicious falsehood of anti-Semitic Holocaust denialism. Consequently, Bodek's moving account of his grandfather's survival of WWII, of the linked stories of death and survival of his family, and his long life thereafter in Israel and the USA, takes up about one third of the book, the rest containing transcripts of Bodek's interviews with Zaidy, and reproductions of supporting documents. These "pad out" the book, but are integral to its purpose and of interest in themselves.

Whilst the author doesn't flinch from the horrors of the persecution of Jewish people by the Nazis and their allies in progressing the Final Solution policy of genocide, he does spare us from graphic descriptions, whilst providing references to where more detailed evidence of the atrocities can be found. This leaves space for the reader to connect with themes of resilience, trauma recovery of individuals, families and communities, and how experiences of deep despair and loss can be transformed into deep love and connection.

I received a copy of the book through Library Thing's Early Reviewers scheme, and feel privileged to have done so.

[Cara Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom absolutely loved learning about the Holocaust and the personal stories of those who survived and endured it. She had a big heart, and she never wanted the world to forget the atrocities that were wrought upon its people. The world's people, not one nation's or religion's, but the world's.

This is a story written based on the personal accounts of a grandfather, father, husband, brother, son, soldier, and conscientious soul who survived some of the worst humanity had to offer. While I am not Jewish, so many of the words and parts of his history I was unable to understand, the meaning and importance rang through. This account of events is not as fleshed out as one might find with other stories written about these events, but that only lends to the authenticity of the memories which, after all these generations, has stuck with a man who had to learn to live with them. It's almost heartening to realize how many of the specifics of his day-to-day struggles has been glossed over by his mind, allowing him to focus on his love of family and God.

While I do wish this story had been longer, as I inherited my mother's longing to devour, and one day understand, the how's and why's of both the aggressors of this haunting tale and the perseverance of the survivors, this is still a compelling read. Everyone should be required to at least read the type of transcripts that are found at the end of this novella. Experience those first-hand experiences of some of the bravest, and strongest, that have ever lived.

[Steph Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction but I am very glad I made an exception in this case!

Zaidy’s War is a biography of the author’s grandfather, Benzion ben Reb Aharon Malik, known to his grandchildren as Zaidy. The book covers Zaidy’s pre-war childhood and life in Romania; his conscription into the war efforts and his family’s imprisonment in the death camps; the eventual reunion of the remaining family members after the war; followed by marriages, children, work, learning, faith, charity, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in a beautiful chain of human goodness and resilience.

I was mesmerised from start to finished – fascinated by all of the documents, references and photographs included, and awed at both the depths of human cruelty and the heights of human compassion presented within these pages. Particularly precious were the transcripts of the author, his mother and his grandfather which the author recorded to get as much of the story down as authentically as possible – I could actually hear their voices as I read.

This is a touching tribute and a lasting memorial to a man who was clearly, as the book concludes ‘the greatest’, and I assure the author that it is also ‘devilishly handsome’. I would recommend this to anyone interested in World War II, Jewish history, European history or just immersive, emotional stories about real-life people and events.

[Marilyn Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Zaidy's War ..." is a book that should be read by everyone, everywhere. We cannot let these stories disappear; we all can learn and benefit from the lessons of this and other survivors of the craziness of war.
This is a story of the experiences of one Jewish man who survived the incredible, unspeakable horrors of World War II, when so many did not. He had an amazing strength of character, coming through such trials and leading a life in which he worked hard and achieved much. No wonder his grandson wanted to record this story. The dedication and effort Martin Bodeko poured into researching and verifying the details is to be commended! At times it is difficult to read, however, it is a story which needs to be told and I hope we can all learn that it should never be allowed to happen again.

[Bronwyn Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an account of just one man's fight, like many others, to survive, not be beaten down by inhumane treatment, slave labour and near starvation during WW 2.
Until I read this true story, I only thought the horrific lives of wartime Jews were only by the hands of Germans when rounded up and thrown into concentration camps but this story lifts a lid on horrid experiences dishes out by supposed countrymen.
Telling a story of surviving animal-like conditions , finding a way to return back to what is discovered to them be a dessimated family and still finding strength to go on.
Thank you for educating me about an unknown existence.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astonishing

The unbelievable story of Zaidy. His unlikely birth, and childhood. Being taken to serve in the war, which he somehow lived through. Choosing to relocate to another country. Survive their only to follow his children to another country. Through hard work and not wasting money, he was able to provide for himself and his family.

#GoodreadsGiveaway

[I. Crocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly inspirational. What a grandfather! The book is all-encompassing and gives good insight into aspects of WWII of which I was unaware.

[Bettie Denny · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are jaw-dropping moments (no spoilers here) in Martin Bodek’s loving, multi-layered tribute to his grandfather, the kind of stories that become mythic. ZAIDY'S WAR begins with an easy-to-read, almost breezy account of a terrifying time, informed by the author’s youthful admiration of his grandfather’s WW2 experiences coupled with an adult understanding of what it actually meant. Included here are chilling details of a Nazi killing center gleaned from the first-hand accounts by other family members. When the narrative abruptly ends, about halfway through the book, I admit initial disappointment. What follows are transcripts of interviews with Zaidy that, surprisingly, I found fascinating. Hearing Zaidy (Benzion) in his own voice gave me a deeper understanding of his character, the nature of being a Hasidic Jew, and the work it takes to transform the wandering recollections of an elderly person into a cogent narrative. Later charts and lineages are easy to ignore, but don’t. When you realize that the author’s 10th great-grandfather is the Ba’al Shem Tov, a Jewish mystic and healer regarded as the founder of Hasidic Judaism, you recognize the heft of Bodek’s heritage.

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartfelt memoir told by the author’s Romanian grandfather of his experience surviving the Buchenwald concentration camp. It is a simply told story but very compelling.

[_sassy_39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Zaidy's War: Four Armies, Three Continents, Two Brothers 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Martin Bodek ✍️
.
.
🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
"Zaidy's War: Four Armies, Three Continents, Two Brothers" written by the author Martin Bodek is one Man's Impossible Story of Endurance. This book is about the survival of Martin's grandfather Zaidy during years of wars. Zaidy was born on Dec 17, 1918. He was named Benzion, son of Zion. Benzion's name was his destiny. Zaidy knew he loved learning and only war could interrupt it.

In late 1939, Zaidy was 21 years old. He was called for duty with the Romanian Armed Forces for a term
of one year but Zaidy's service was canceled before the year completed and he was sent home. Then he was called to serve in the Hungarian Forced Labor Service System.

The Hungarian army abused him for his Jewishness. Read this book to know more about Zaidy's life as he served different armies like the German army, the Soviet army, etc. Martin sat with Zaidy to record his story when Martin's wife Naomi was working as a chef's class assistant. He has transcribed the tape recordings in this book and it was interesting to read them.

I binge read this book. It's written well and is worth reading. I appreciate the remarkable resilience of Zaidy. This book teaches us to be resilient in life. The pictures, documents, letters, etc that the author has attached at the end made me feel more connected to the story.

• 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

[Charles Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredible story. And the personal piece of it makes it that much more poignant. And the way Bodek ties in his Zaidy's story into his community and his family is really distinctive and powerful.

I WANTED MORE. It's a hard thing to capture what someone was thinking and feeling 70 years after their experience, but more of the emotional toll would have given the story more weight. Here, Bodek's expertise in humor writing (seriously, checkout the emoji Haggadah) gets in his way, and the book sometimes feels too light for the story.

There were also times when it could have been clearer who the book was for. The breakdown of roles in Auchswitz was helpful, but then the holiday of Shavuot wasn't explained. In that way, this book was clearly for observant Ashkenazi Jews with familiar with the Satmar rabbinic dynasty, a smattering of Yiddish, and basic WWII history. The challenge with taking on a story set in the middle of that complex, rich Venn diagram is ensuring all the loose ends are explained and defined and sourced. Which took me back to my sole critique - MORE PLEASE. More detail, more sources, more explanation, more feeling.

[Coleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through voracious readers only in exchange for an honest review. It sat in my ebook pile for ages. I am very glad I finally pulled it out to read. Needless to say, the story was compelling. Although heartbreaking and horrific at times, the narrative style and prose were both engaging, gentle and at times amusing. Kudos to the author for his expertise and deft use of language, which focused a difficult story on the resilience of its protagonist Zaidy and his brother Eliezer, while not flinching away from the atrocities experienced. This a beautiful memoir of a life well lived and loving retelling of that story by the author and grandson. Thank goodness for google which helped me as a gentile, navigate the meaning behind many of the Hebrew words.
Thank you Martin

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Zaidy’s War by Martin Bodek was an unforgettable and deeply emotional experience for me. I loved every moment of this book, even as my heart shattered with each harrowing detail of his grandfather’s experiences. The way Bodek brings his grandfather’s story to life is nothing short of masterful. The raw honesty, humor, and love with which he recounts such a painful chapter of history left me in awe.

I appreciated how the book not only focused on the horrors of war and survival but also on the incredible resilience, courage, and unwavering hope of his grandfather. The family anecdotes added a personal, intimate touch that made me feel connected to their journey, and the blend of humor in even the darkest moments was both surprising and uplifting.

This story reminded me of the importance of honoring those who endured so much and ensured their legacy lives on. It’s not just a history lesson but a tribute to the strength of the human spirit. I highly recommend Zaidy’s War to everyone.

I'll carry this story with me for quite some time!


#Holocaust #WW2 #NeverAgain


I received this ARC from Voracious Readers Only. This is my honest review after reading this amazing book!

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply personal and well written book. Good job!

[Patricia Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn’t read this book. It’s probably very good, but I couldn’t get past the bad editing.

[Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zaidy's War: Four Armies, Three Continents, Two Brothers. One Man's Impossible Story of Endurance (Holocaust Survivor True Stories) by Martin Bodek.

This is quite an exceptional book, the story of Benzion (“Zaidy”) Malik, a doggedly determined man who just never gave up, no matter what life put in his path. Written by his grandson, Zaidy’s path includes induction the into the Romanian Army in 1939 and then being pressed into slavelike labor to serve the other armies, Hungarian and then German forces. Finally, he is conscripted into the Russian army, and he served that institution until the end of WWII.

Even more compelling than Zaidy’s own experiences in this book, though, are vivid accounts from his extended family about their horrendous experiences in the monstrous Nazi death camps. The inhumanity and brutality detailed are shocking, sickening and hard to believe or even stomach. All that must never be forgotten, so these details of The Holocaust are required reading. The Third Reich’s actions to erase the Jewish people were absolutely harrowing, strategic and thorough, making this very chilling reading, indeed.

In the second half of the book, Bodek prints for us his verbatim transcripts of the actual interviews he conducted with Zaidy as an old man, which is the source material for his narrative. This section has a certain flair and authenticity that is charming in its own way, and well worth reading.

If there is a minor criticism to level at this work, it is that the narrative tone is quite bland, while covering exciting events and chilling occurrences. And the author spends rather too much time exhaustively identifying people, giving their detailed bloodlines, family details and full names. This gets tedious. Also, in spite of Zaidy’s incredible experiences, the authorial tone comes across as way too matter-of-fact, almost a monotonous recounting as might appear in an encyclopedia, not a memoir or novel. Still, it is striking how much of Zaidy’s emotion still manages to shine through.

[Amys Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Magnetic Read!

Martin Bodek writes a remarkable and true story about the tragic and yet, amazing life of Benzion Malik in Zaidy's War: Four Armies, Three Continents, Two Brothers. One Man's Impossible Story of Endurance. I haven't read anything from Martin Bodek before, but I have just become a fan. It's not easy telling someone else's story, especially when the tragedies seem to outweigh the triumphs. It's an embraceable story about Benzion Malik. He was young, and called to the Romanian army in 1939. His life was not just as a soldier, but his calling was really a force and form of slavery, as he was forced to serve three armies, and forced to do hard labor and suffer torture. Benzion was Jewish. His acts of bravery were just about him being able to survive, even when he had to serve the German army, and then, the Soviets needed him to help fight the Nazi regime. He wasn't free until 1945, and his story is harrowing, and not unlike many men like him. He could have lived with hate in his heart when it was all over, but he didn't, and he never gave up on the world. It’s definitely un-put-downable! This author is a great storyteller. The author brings the reader on a superb journey. This is a totally inspirational title. The title drew me in, but the story made me stay. The hardest part of reading this book was knowing that this wasn't a story, it was a life experience. Zaidy's War: Four Armies, Three Continents, Two Brothers. One Man's Impossible Story of Endurance is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.

[Stephan Neff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the honour of interviewing the author Martin Bodek on my show Neff Inspiration. Having devoured Martin's book I could not wait to dive deep into this remarkable story:
Benzion Malik's incredible journey of discovery was abruptly interrupted when he was called up to the Romanian Army in 1939. Little did he know that he would endure six long years of service in multiple armies, facing unimaginable hardships and discrimination as a result of his Jewish identity. But Benzion's spirit remained unbroken, fueled by the kindness of strangers who helped him cling to life amidst the chaos of war.
After the dust settled and World War II came to an end, Benzion faced the daunting task of making a 2,600-kilometer journey back home. And guess what? He narrowly escaped being poisoned by mushroom soup along the way! Can you believe it?
But here's the incredible part: despite the ruins left behind by the war, Benzion refused to be defeated. He rolled up his sleeves and set out to rebuild his community, all while embracing the powerful concept of Tikkun Olam - the Repairing of the World. He believed in cosmic justice and sought to leave an everlasting imprint on his family, friends, and even strangers for generations to come.
And who's telling this awe-inspiring story? None other than his loving grandson! This book is a testament to Benzion's unwavering resilience, his refusal to give up on the world even after experiencing extreme destruction. Get ready to be inspired as you delve into the pages of this remarkable tale of hope, determination, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
Stephan Neff, www.neffinspiration.com

[Marcia Vida · Rating 5 out of 5]

War is a crucible that inflicts deep traumas, teaches harsh lessons, and causes irreparable losses. Reading this book made me feel every moment described on the pages as it tells the powerful story of the author's grandfather, Zaidy, who was passionate about learning.

Zaidy was drafted into the Romanian Armed Forces, where he served briefly without access to kosher food, causing him to lose weight. In 1941, he received a summons to the Hungarian Forced Labor Service, where he endured harsh labour conditions, deprivation of clothing, and food rations.

Despite his trials, Zaidy joined Operation Barbarossa, the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. His decision worried his parents deeply, and his mother was emotionally overcome, retreating to her bedroom in tears.

During the war, Zaidy witnessed the horror and dire conditions of the battlefield, with soldiers dying of starvation and lifeless bodies filling every vehicle. The emotional toll was overwhelming, and Zaidy and his doomed friends suffered greatly.

This brilliant biography of resilience prompts us to reflect on the value of life in the face of bullets, bombs, and the constant presence of death. By immersing ourselves in the vivid details of Zaidy's story, we are reminded of the many aspects of life that we often take for granted. This book is an impactful and worthwhile read.

[A]

A young man writes of the life of his grandfather Zaidy, who experienced the Holocaust as a Romanian Jew. The author share’s his family’s world with the reader, and it was interesting to learn about their strong faith and their way of life. I was reminded of when I was graciously invited to Seder at a friend’s house. (I am not Jewish.)

The book has a few sections. The first half of the book is the story of Zaidy as narrated by the author. The section on his early life and survival through the horrors of the Holocaust are by far the most interesting. Zaidy ultimately moves to the US and works a series of jobs and has many grandbabies in his old age. A large section of text is the transcript of the interviews in which the author tries to tease out details of Zaidy’s experiences and the timeline. This allows the reader to hear Zaidy’s story firsthand, but it is the same information that was already covered. I felt it was superfluous. An extensive genealogy is also included in the appendix, and references too.
I was provided with an ARC (thanks to the author & publisher!) and I am voluntarily posting my honest review.

[Ira Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zaidy’s War is one of the more unique remembrances of the Holocaust period that I’ve read, based on his interviews with the author’s grandfather, Benzion Malik.

An observant Rumanian Jew living during WW2, he was conscripted into the Rumanian army where he was a laborer, then the Hungarian when Rumania was absorbed into Hungary, for more of the same. He was then forcibly taken by the Germans to the Russian front, escaped and joined the Russian army. All of this occurred while most of his family was murdered in the camps, whose stories are interspersed in the narrative.

The first half of the book is Zaidy’s story, while the second half is an appendix consisting of the transcripts of the interview tapes, family genealogy, pictures, and other sources. While the transcripts are interesting, it was just another variation on the story I had already read.

An incredible story of survival, made all the more poignant by the obvious love of a grandson for his remarkable Zaide.

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Zaidy’s War’ is a memoir about Benzion Malik and how he ends up in the Romanian Army at age 21. You get to read his life from 1939 and how he is still stuck in the army till 1945. Benzion serves three different armies and goes through a lot of abuse and labor. You truly feel everything he describes as you read more and more about his life. His struggles increase, and his hardship escalates; however, his spirit never breaks.

The memoir is written well, and you can see the author has tried to include every account, ensuring nothing is missed. I appreciated the honesty and how the author kept his principles intact. It is very hard to be this way when you have seen this much.

I recommend this book to memoir readers.

[Audrey Birnbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring Holocaust true story that is hard to put down

I read Zaidy’s War in just a few hours one night because it was such a gripping story that I found hard to put down. Author Martin Bodek deftly tells the tale of his grandfather’s remarkable survival during World War II under the most dire of conditions, all the while maintaining his human decency and his religious certainty. The writing is excellent and brings the reader directly into the drama, differentiating it from many other survival stories. The first half of the book is the story itself and the second half is reserved for interesting background material. All in all, an important contribution to our understanding of this time in history, and a beautiful tribute to a remarkable man.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good telling the story of survival of a young man during WWII and his endurance and resilience to keep living. But above all is a book of love and a tribute of a grandson to his grandfather, a love that comes thru the pages of the book.
With interviews and first account stories the book is a history book of a terrible time to be a Jewish person and is very relatable to the times we are living in now, knowledge is power and learning about the past may prevent history repeating in the present or future, more people should read accounts of the tragedies that occurred during WWII to prevent it to happen again, especially right now.