Generation from page 22 ship of the American Al Schwimmer. They were married in a 1949 ceremony attended by Israeli pilots of the 69th and 101st air squadrons. Rudy served in the 101st Air Squadron of the Israeli Air Force for two years and was one of the first El Al Israel Airlines pilots. After the birth of -their first son, the Newman returned to Detroit in 1952. The couple's love and support of Israel did not wither with their move to the United States. Today, Ann is well known for her support of Israel and the Zionist causes. She is a chairman emeritus of the Michigan Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF). On a trip this winter to Israel, she took one of her grandsons who expressed interest in the IDF; the same program that brought his grandfather to Israel. Joshua Newman, a junior at Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield, and his grandmother were escorted on a trip to Israel by Michigan Chapter FIDF Executive Director Tamir Oppenheim. Their tour included meeting with Col. (Res.) Pinky Zoaretz, who lost his leg in the Philadelphi Corridor. They received a briefing from Brig. Gen. Yossi Bachar, com- mander of the Gaza Division, and met with Maj. Gen. Tal Russo, commander of the IDF Southern Command. Joshua and his grand- mother met with American soldiers serving in the 101 Battalion on the border with the Gaza Strip. "It was very heartwarming to see the soldier from West Bloomfield," Joshua said. It really gave me a connection that maybe, one day, I will be able to join the army:" Ann Newman insists that the FIDF motto — "Their job is to look after Israel. Ours is to look after them" — is deeper than just words; when in Israel, she says, you can feel this message. "It is very important for us to make every effort to visit the young soldiers," she says. "Unlike our kids that plan which college to go to, Israeli kids have to go into the IDE It is very important to encourage them because without them and without Israel, we are lost:' Newman knows that supporting the FIDF is investing in Israel's future. Israeli soldiers benefit from the FIDF range of programs, which address educational, Mrs. Newman with Col. (Res.) Pinky Zoaretz and Maj. Gen. Tal Russo, IDF Southern Command commander social, economic, recreational, spiri- tual and cultural needs as well those of families of soldiers fallen in defense of the State of Israel. On tour, Joshua and his grandmother visited the five FIDF-built capital projects: a synagogue, a recreational sports facility, a cafeteria, a clinic and an auditorium. This family trip led Joshua to consider his heritage while on tour of IDF sites and Israel. He explained that his grandparents were among volunteers from outside the Land of Israel and that he wishes to continue their legacy, making sure his family knows their roots are in Israel. ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA MICHIGAN REGION PRESENTS What You Need to Know About The Muslim Brotherhood Hear about the Muslim Brotherhood's guises, its goals, its strategy and how it is working now in Europe and the United States Wednesday March 9th 7:30 PM Holocaust Memorial Center 28123 Orchard Lake Road Farmington Hills, MI 48334 Please RSVP by Monday, March 7, 2011 to info@mizoa,org or (248) 282-0088 Robert Spencer is the author of ten books including the New York Times bestsellers: The Truth about Muhammad and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam. He has led seminars on Islam and jihad for the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Army Command, the F.B.I. and the U.S. intelligence community. 1655030 24 February 24 • 2011