IS • • •
COMPILED BY ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
High-Tech Hope For Quadriplegics
L
h
ifting a cup, gripping a
pen or turning a han-
dle — everyday actions
p most people perform with-
, out thought — are only a
dream for quadriplegics.
4 Now, however, a system
, developed by Dr. Roger
1 Nathan of the mechanical
engineering department at
Ben-Gurion University
could reduce their level of
dependence.
, Dr. Nathan,
a British-born
expert in bio-
medical engi-
neering, has
F created devices
for activating,
by transmis-
sion of electri-
:al pulses, the
i --!rms - and
., ads of quadriplegics.
, Aivation is carried out by
_ 'computerized system in
Lich electrodes are con-
- .ected to stimulation points
the skin surface over the
muscles. Each electrode
operates on a separate mus-
cle so as to achieve complex
and delicate movements.
Electrical pulses, imitating
those of the brain, are then
transmitted to each muscle.
k
.
II
The intensity of the current
determines the force of the
muscular contractions.
Dr. Nathan's team is one
of the few in the world
working on the activation of
upper limbs. While the leg
contains few muscles and
the walking movement is
mechanically simple, hand
movements are highly com-
plex. The hand and the arm
have about 30
muscles — 12
of which are
activated for
the gripping of
a cup.
Work is be-
ing done on
three different
systems, depen-
dent on the
extent of cervi-
cal vertebrae damage. The
first product, for those with
limited forearm and hand
movement, is in the final
stage of development. It
enables three hand move-
ments, a grasp grip for cup
or book, a key grip for pen
or handle, and exercise
movement. The other two
systems should be complet-
ed within the next several
years.
ms Update For Survivors
ndi\-;iduai s wishing to
. I make property, land,
l i 1-movable property or
I land compensation claims
1 ' in the former German
Democratic Republic (East
'Germany) have until the
end of this month to do so.
• Under an amended law,
the German government
must receive by Dec. 31
any claims for appropriat-
ed land or property. Claims
for movable property must
`II I be received by June 30,
1993.
Previous law set no time
4 limit for such claims.
For intornaation, contact
the Consulate General of
the Federal Republic of
Germany, 2100 Edison
Plaza, Detroit, MI. 48226,
or call 962-6526.
In addilion, a new agree
ment,g-ried by the
German government and
the Conference on Jewish
Material Claims Against
Germany. will pay repara-
tions to survivors who
were, until now, unable to
receive reparations.
The reparations will
offer benefits to the thou-
sands of Nazi victims who
lived after the war in the
former Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe and were
unable to file applications
by the 1965 deadline.
Some 90,000 Jews who
made it to the West after
the deadline received only
a small sum as compensa-
tion. The new accord pro-
vides for an additional one-
time payment.
Payments will
a..de
to those held more than six
months in death camps, in
ghettos for at least 18
months, and those who
lived in hiding for at least
18 months.
For information, write
the Claims Conference, 15
E. 26th St., New York,
N.Y., 10010, or tall (212)
696-4944.
Dershowitz on Latkes
sko4
Rover Meets
Wheat Germ
N
o doubt Rover al-
ready has complain-
ed countless times
about that dumb, boring dog
food you keeping feeding
him. Haven't you noticed
how he watches when you
sit down to filet mignon and
he's looking at another bowl
of Tasty Dog?
Maybe it's time you put
that steak knife down, big
fella, and get your pooch
some Murphy's All Natural
Gourmet Dog Biscuits.
Available at local pet
stores, the biscuits are the
brainchild of Detroiter
Kevin Spitz. Partial pro-
ceeds from the sale of the
product will benefit humane
societies. The biscuits are
being packaged by develop-
mentally disabled clients of
the Jewish Vocational
Service.
But here's the really sen-
sitive part of this whole
thing: the biscuits are made
only with natural ingredi- •
ents like wheat germ and
honey — perfect for today's
socially conscious, politically
correct dog.
This Message
Could Be Deadly
L
ooking for a new way
to network? Maybe it's
time for shiva!
No, no, I'm not talking
about houses of mourning.
I'm talking about a new
communications system
available through the PC
Connection Catalog. And
yes, it's really called
"Shiva."
Only those well-versed in
computerese could actually
understand what Shiva does
("it lets you work in the
interface you are used to
whether it's Windows or
DOS"). But gee, with a
name like Shiva, it has to be
high-tech fun, right?
H
e spends many of his
days in the court-
room, but around this
time of year attorney Alan
Dershowitz (in town this
week to speak for the
Jewish Federation) also can
be found in that most excit-
ing of spots, the kitchen.
McCall's magazine man-
aged to secure Mr.
Dershowitz's family recipe
for latkes (it appears in the
December issue). If you're in
the mood for a high-powered
meal, give it a try:
Coarsely grate .3 large
peeled baking potatoes, 1
and 1/2-pounds small zuc-
chini, 1 large onion; drain.
Add 4 large egg whites, 1
large egg yolk, 1 Tbsp.
chopped dill, 1 and 1/4 tsp.
vegetable oil, 1 and 1/2 tsp.
salt, 1 and 1/4 tsp. pepper, 2
minced cloves garlic; mix.
Mix in 2/3 cup matzah meal,
adding more if needed for
batter consistency.
In skillet, heat 1/4-inch oil
over medium heat. Fry
latkes 8 minutes or until
What's not to like?
The perfect Hanukkah pancake
Pao, Janne
mon, Man
who Im owed
to such hig,
profile &ma as
M. Tyson.
Leona Mamie, and Mia Farrow. Imam
his way around . kitchen as nal as the
courtmoni. So .e alad him to dux his
trosund Elonly rod, foe potato psocakes.
Into boot. coandy pats 3
peeled
porno. 11.
eaerbisi. s
ordere drain. Add Logr ear edam , ‘er.
7I9 chap, 6L r5f op *am.
aiL
ode M m pep, atimenickao
gad, . M irin rep sat, .
aid
mon meal if needed ko ferns consimn,.
In dales. heat We- adorer rtedram heat
panedre Mauna or orna beamed
both ides. ming 'A alp bacon he ad,
flancning goadr drain. Make ea.
m
m
browned on both sides,
using 1/4 cup batter for
each, flattening gently.
Drain. Makes 22.
Where R ion and Rock Mix
o you think rock stars
are more interested in
trouble than Torah?
Think again.
Bob Beresh, son of
Clifford and Ruth Beresh
of Beverly Hills, spent last
summer with United
Synagogue Youth (USY) on
Wheels, a six-and-a-half
week program that takes
11th-graders on a tour of
the United States. Among
last summer's stops:
Nebraska, the Grand
Canyon, New Orleans,
Philadelphia and Washing-
ton, D.C.
While in California over
the weekend, the teens
found themselves in the
same hotel as the band
Pearl Jam, whose tour was
just getting under way. On
Shabbat, the USYers were
having a discussion on
Pirke Avot, Sayings of the
Fathers, when in popped
an unusual guest: Pearl
Jam's Eddie Vedder. Mr.
Vedder even joined in the
discussion.
The Round Up Goes Profound,
So Help Me God
U
sually, as every regu-
lar Round Up reader
(and isn't that every-
one?) knows, this section of
the paper is dedicated to
lighthearted, jovial aspects
of Jewish news. No "PLO
attacks Israel," no "Jewish
community at odds about
..." and certainly no
"Religious discussion focus-
es on..." here.
But then along comes a
theological issue so pro-
found, Round Up cannot
idly sit back. And that's.the
case with "So help me God."
We hear it every day. In
the courtroom as the wit-
ness makes his vow to tell
the whole truth. In conver-
sation — "Bobby better
clean up his room or he's not
going to watch 'Love
Connection' tonight, so help
me God!" But what, pray
tell, does it mean?
Believing it's time for the
Jewish community to at last
address this earth-shatter-
ing question, the Round Up
is soliciting responses that
explain the phrase, "So help
me God." The most illumi-
nating, or most clever, will
be printed on this very page
in the coming weeks. All
submissions, sent to The
Round Up, c/o The Jewish
News, must be received by
Dec. 30.
Send in your ideas or I
will be forced to come up
with something myself. So
help me God, I will not let
this question go unan-
swered.