Why is an AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuity different from all others? 41111=r, —aal Dick Jaeger works on genealogy at his computer. Family Sleuth Genealogist traces his ancestors back 2,500 years. It drives the next generation of technology. I Stacy Gittleman Contributing Writer I President Obama views Mobileye in action— see video at afhu.org/CGA2 On his recent state visit to Israel, President Obama received a demonstration of Mobileye from Amnon Shashua, the Sachs Family Professor of Computer Sciences at The Hebrew University of Mobileye, an Advanced Driver Assistance System, saves lives and boosts automotive safety. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is an engine of innovation and discovery for Israel and our global community. AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuity Returns When you create a secure AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuity— with its high lifetime return, tax Share in the vision of Albert Einstein, a founder of The Hebrew University. Help propel a catalyst for research and learning that strengthens Israel and transforms our world. Rate 67 6.2% 7o 6.5% 75 8o 8.o% 85 deductions and annuity payments that are substantially tax-free— your annuity drives Israeli-led innovation toward a better future. Age 90 7.1% 9.5% 11.3% Rates are calculated based on a single life. Cash contributions produce annuity payments that are substantially tax-free. CALL OR EMAIL NOW. THE RETURNS ARE GENEROUS. THE CAUSE IS PRICELESS. For information on AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuities, please call AFHU Midwest Region Executive Director, Judith Shenkman at (312) 329-0332 or email: jshenkman@afhu.org The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Research engine for the world. Engine of growth for a nation. AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY 500 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1530 Chicago, IL 60611 • 877-642-AFHU (2348) afhu.org/CGA2 70 J gust 21 • 2014 JN f Dick Jaeger of Farmington Hills were to draw his family tree on a piece of paper, he would need a wall tall enough to display thousands of years of history and ancestors, includ- ing politicians, rabbis, cartographers during the Age of Exploration and maybe Queen Esther herself. Jaeger's journey in genealogy started in 1993 when, at 55, he felt a need to pass on family history to his children. He turned to the Jewish Genealogy Society of Michigan (JGSM), connected with cousins he never knew he had and together they started digging and piecing together a family history. Two decades later, he is a vice presi- dent of the JGSM and author of the self- published book Those Who Made A Difference (Amazon's createspace, 2013), a compilation of 27,000 family members spanning nearly 2,500 years. Through his research, Jaeger learned he has both Sephardic and Ashkenazic roots. He can "comfortably" say that the earliest relatives he uncovered date back to 1452, when members of his family lived in Spain, were expelled to Portugal and then the Netherlands. He still has cousins there as well as in England, Australia and New Zealand. One of Jaeger's many notable ancestors was rabbi, cartographer and philosopher Abraham Zacuto, who, in the late 1400s, created the navigation charts to be used first by Christopher Columbus and then the Portuguese explorers. Jaeger's family tree also contains American politicians. His great-great grandfather served as an alderman for the Lower East Side neighborhood in New York City in the 1880s. Family members also include Judah Benjamin, the first Jew to serve as a U.S. senator for Louisiana in 1852. Though separated by several genera- tions, Jaeger has followed the examples set by his ancestors for his interest and involvement in politics in order to do good for his community. Inspired by an encounter with then-Sen. John E Kennedy in 1960, he is an active mem- ber of the Democratic Party. Right now, he is advocating for several bills in the U.S Congress, which support funding for cancer research and palliative care. A delegate to the Michigan Democratic Party since 2005, last year he lobbied Congress for continued funding for NIH research and Centers for Disease Control diagnostic and preventative programs for breast and colorectal cancers. "It is not only important to secure funding for cancer research, but also to fund support for the physical and mental well-being of cancer patients as well as their caregivers during and after their treatments:' said Jaeger, a two-time can- cer survivor and an active member of the American Cancer Society/Cancer Action Network since 2006. When researching family history, sometimes people discover unexpected twists. For example, Jaeger and a Californian cousin, after retrieving fam- ily birth records, realized that his mater- nal grandmother had a first husband. "I was in my 60s before I learned that my grandmother had a first husband, my mother's father, who died when she was only 2," Jaeger said. "When you research family history, you may find some unusual secrets:' After digging up his family tree for two decades, Jaeger has some advice and tips to offer beginner genealogists. First, check out the JGSM, which has monthly meetings at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills. For more information, go to www. jgsmi.org. Jaeger admits that because his fam- ily came to America through England, his family records were better pre- served than those that may have been destroyed in Eastern Europe during WWII. Most of all, Jaeger advises genealo- gists not to become discouraged. If one relative's branch reaches a dead end, Jaeger says to go back and trace another relative. Looking up last names on social media sites like Facebook is also a helpful way to find long-lost relatives. "Even if you think you have reached a stone wall, there are ways to get over and under that wall:' ❑