10 Friday, February 18, 1983 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Israelis Protect Crops Without Hurting Wild By BILL CLARK JERUSALEM — Israel farmers, like their counter- parts all over the world, have their share of wildlife problems. The difference is that the Israeli Nature Re- serves Authoritiy doesn't allow farmers to shoot, trap or poison wild animals. Most conventional animal- control devices, such as leghold traps, common throughout North America, are flatly prohibited. To comply with the strict aws here, Israelis are fend- !ng off wildlife with such ,veapons as hard rock music, taped bird calls, and harmless, solar-powered shocks. And to encourage farmers to handle wildlife nuisances without resorting to cruel, deadly or non- selective devices, the Na- tare Reserves Authority is working with them to in- vent, experiment and ex- pand humane and biologically-acceptable methods. A blasting transistor radio, for example, tuned to a local station, connected to a loudspeaker and set in the middle of a field, is some- times enough to dissuade the local wildlife from entering and feasting on ri- pening produce. With this technique, the selection of the proper radio station can mean success or failure, says Avinoam Lurie, the authority's animal dam- age control expert. "We find that the army radio station is best," he says, "because it has a mixed program of popular, classical and oriental music, talk shows and news. The programs keep changing and this tends to discourage wild ani- mals from entering the field." "Playing tape-recorded alarm calls of birds also works," Lurie says, explain- ing that the authority has taped the alarm calls of sev- eral species of birds which damage crops. "It's quite ef- fective with starlings," he said, "but not so effective with other species, such as bulbuls." Shepherds have long used reliable dogs to protect their sheep, but only recently, Is- raelis have learned that dogs can be very useful in protecting crops as well. Again, success depends on the technique. Simply let- ting Fido sleep out in the field doesn't help very much. "We've been working with two techniques," Lurie says. "First, we've found house calls a thing of the past?? OF COURSE NOT! Let The Jewish News visit your home or that of a friend or relative each week. To: The Jewish News 17515 W. 9 Mile Rd., Suite 865 Southfield, Mich. 48075 Please send a year's gift subscription to: NAME _ _ _ ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP OCCASION: FROM: ❑ $15 enclosed 11 that a bitch with puppies can be very effective in keeping all other animals away from the field. But lately, we've been working on a two-dog system using dominant and subdominant dogs." "Dominant" dogs, meaning those which are the most ferocious, have a tendency to sleep more soundly. So a more timid, "subdominant" dog is allowed to roam free and alert the leashed-up do- minant dog at the first sign of an intruder. "The technique is still experi- mental," Lurie points out, "but it seems to be work- ing." An electrified fence has proved to be the best protec- tion device. "We've had very positive results with this," Lurie reports. "We've used it all around the country to protect farms from all sorts of wildlife — gazelles, wild boar, hares, porcupines and even predators." Most of the electrified fences come from the work- shop of Reuven Yoffe on Moshav Nahalal in Israel's north. Yoffe, a cattle, cotton and pecan farmer by profes- sion, is also an incurable gadgeteer. The electrified fence is one of his pet proj- ects. He produces two types of units, each for a different application, but both types have certain similarities. For example, both are fully electronic, highly energy- efficient, and highly effec- tive without harming ani- mals. One unit, Yoffe ex- plains, conducts 7,000 volts through rows of or- dinary galvanized wire. The unit is capable of keeping about 25 miles of wire electrified. When an animal attempts to climb through or over the fence, it is shocked by the high voltage, but because the amperage is very low (0.08 amps/hr.) no physi- cal damage is done to the animal. According to Yoffe, this type of elec- trified fence is useful for permanent situations. His other unit consists of a single galvanized wire connected to a 30,000-volt electric pulse. Again, the merit of the device is that the amperage is so low that the shock can't cause any physical harm to the animal touching it. Although this unit is use- ful for only four kilometers (less than three miles), it has the benefit of being portable. With the aid of a collection of fiberglass rods as quickly-inserted fence- posts, the electric fence can be installed in a matter of hours. Such application is useful when a field needs only temporary protection, or when the farmer is fre- quently shifting his stock, as with sheep herding on open grasslands. Yoffe noted that by using a higher-frequency oscil- lator he could get good re- sults with lower amperage. Today, his 7,000-volt fence can work at 30 pulses per minute off a standard 12- volt battery for a month without recharging. And if a modest amount of sun- shine is handy, a small solar charger can be attached to keep the battery charged and operating indefinitely. Yoffe echoed the sen- timents of many profes- sionals involved in Is- rael's wildlife damage control. "Some time ago, farmers simply wanted to kill any animals that came in and ate their crops or killed livestock," he said. "But in recent years, there has been a new understanding. In- stead of fighting against the Nature Reserves Authority, farmers are now working with them. "Farmers have learned, and now they understand that killing an offending animal doesn't solve the problem. It only opens the way for another animal to come in, and then another and another. It can become an endless cycle." Dr. I.E. Gordon Dr. Irving E. Gordon, a dentist with offices in Pon- tiac for more than 50 years, died Feb. 10 at age 73. Born in New York, Dr. Gordon was a member of Bnai Brith and Kiwanis, and was graduated from the University of Marquette Dental School in 1931. He was a member of the American Endodontic Society, the American Analgesic Society and the International Conference of Implantation. He leaves his wife, Be- rtha; two sons, Dr. Stephen of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Robert; two daughters, Mrs. Michael (Judith) Stul- berg of Santa Barbara and Mrs. Steven (Debra) Sher- man of Monsey, N.Y.; three brothers, Dr. Daniel of Newport Beach, Calif., Dr. Sidney and Judge Norman, both of Huntington Beach, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Lillian Sussman of Palm Springs, Calif.; and nine grand- children. Dr. Steinberg NEW YORK — Dr. Israel Steinberg, a developer of angiocardiography, a tech- nique in the diagnosis of heart disease in adults, died Feb. 15 at age 80. Edward Wolf Edward Wolf, founder of the Wolf Sanitary Wiping Cloth Co., died Feb. 8 at age 88. A former Detroiter, Mr. Wolf resided in Miami Be- ach, Fla., for the past 15 years. He founded his company in 1912 in Ferndale. He also founded the Windsor Wip- ing Cloth Co. and the former Wolf Fabric Mart. Mr. Wolf was a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner and a founder Lotti Wolf Racing Stables. He leaves his wife, Tina; four sons, Morton, Stanley and Roy, all of Southfield, and Charles of Franklin; a brother, Nathan of New York ; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Interment Florida. Rabbi Kirshblum Led NY Jewry NEW YORK (JTA) — Rabbi I. Usher Kirshblum, spiritual leader of the Jewish Center of Kew Gar- dens Hills in Queens, died Feb. 5. He was 71. Rabbi Kirshblum, who had been associated with the Jewish Center since 1946, was membership chairman of the Zionist Organization of America and a member of the Rab- binical Assembly of America in which he was a leading opponent of ordain- ing women as rabbis. He also was active in numerous Jewish com- munal and Zionist organ- izations. Born in Bialystok, Po- land, he came to the United States as a child. He was a graduate of Albert Kanfer Brooklyn College, Albert Kanfer, a residen- studied at the Jewish In- tial builder and land de- stitute of Religion and veloper, died Feb. 11 at age was orgained a rabbi in 63. 1944. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., In 1971 Rabbi Kirshblum Mr. Kanfer lived 51 years in received an honorary de- Detroit. He was the owner of gree of Doctor of Divinity Albert Kanfer Builders, a from the Jewish Theological business he started in 1946. Seminary of America. He was a life member of Cong. Beth Achim, Eugene Hevesi, Craftsman Lodge of the Ma- sons, Crescent Shrine Club AJC Official and Louis D. Brandeis NEW YORK — Dr. Lodge of Bnai Brith. Eugene Hevesi, foreign af- He leaves his wife, Be- fairs secretary for the rtha; a daughter, Mrs. American Jewish Commit- Lawrence (Judye) Glazer; tee, died Feb. 15 at age 87. three sisters, Mrs. Herman The son of the former (Ruth) Kass, Mrs. Mitchell chief rabbi of Hungary, Dr. (Gwen) Kronick of Los Hevesi was an economic at- Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. tache in the Hungarian Harry (Mollye) Dubbs; and Embassy, but resigned in six grandchildren. protest over the passage of an anti-Semitic law in Dr. Samuel Danto Hungary. He came to the Dr. Samuel B. (Budd) U.S. in 1937 and served Danto, a dentist with offices with the AJCommittee for in Detroit for more than 50 23 years. He also was the UN years, died Feb. 14 at age representative for six 83. A native Detroiter, Dr. Jewish non-governmental Danto resided in St. organizations, among them Petersburg, Fla., at the time the Joint Distribution of his death. He retired to Committee and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Florida in 1973. In the 1960s, he was a Dr. Danto was a founder liaison official between in 1941 of Temple Israel. He leaves his wife, Sylvia; many American Jewish two sons, Dr. Bruce of De- organizations and the Vati- troit and Dr. Arthur; one can. sister and six grandchil- dren. Interment St. Harry Band Petersburg. Harry Band, a retail fish merchant, died Feb. 15 at age 72. Dr. Kline, Aided Born in Poland, Mr. Band Mentally III came to the U.S. 69 years NEW YORK — Dr. ago. He was the owner of a Nathan S. Kline, whose fish store on 12th Street for work with drugs helped 42 years and later on Seven revolutionize the treatment Mile Road near Schaefer. of mental illnesses, died He was a member of Feb. 11 at age 66. Cong. Bnai Israel-Beth His development of tran- Yehudah. quilizers and anti- He is survived by a son, depressants made possible Steven A.. a daughter, Mrs. the treatment of many Arnold (Sonia) ' Smith; two patients formerly consid- brothers, Hyman Band and ered untreatable, the New Michael Wallach; and two York Times reported. grandsons. "Over 65 years of traditional service in the Jewish community with dignity and understanding." HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL 543.1622 SERVING ALL CEMETERIES 26640 GREENFIELD ROAD OAK PARK, MICHIGAN 48237 Alan H. Dorfman Funeral Director & Mgr.