Technology comes to the cemetery

September 20, 2010 - 4:25 PM by Brian Blum

Illustrative photo from Ynet (Reuters)

I recently went to the funeral of a friend’s father in Jerusalem. I arrived on time to where the eulogy was to take place but there was no one in sight. An electronic signboard announced the time of the next funeral, but it wasn’t for the family I had come for. At that moment, several other befuddled friends headed in my direction, informing me the funeral I needed was at the other location down the road.

Too bad the Chevra Kadisha’s new electronic GPS cemetery software wasn’t up and running. Israel’s burial society is significantly upgrading its web and mobile presence with a whole range of services, from a Facebook genealogy-type program linking all those deceased in Israeli cemeteries (starting in Tel Aviv) to the ability to create your own commemoration page including email reminders of upcoming anniversaries.

The most intriguing service, though, is the location finder which will, according to Yossi Zrock, head of Chevra Kadisha IT Services, use GPS to lead the bereaved “directly to the desired gravestone and will allow them, en route, to view photos of the deceased, read about his life and access the required prayers.”

Don’t have a smart phone? No worries. You can text the name of the deceased to *4664 and directions will be sent to your mobile. Or rent a PDA on arrival for only $5.00.

What about people who can’t attend the funeral? Webcasting is coming. For only $50-$80, you can watch online. Then buy a CD for $15. The Chevra Kadisha in Tel Aviv says that most cemeteries in Israel already have cameras, although I’ve never seen one in Jerusalem.

Alter Hoz, chairman of Chevra Kadisha, put a positive spin on the morbid mix: “We will continue to use technology in favor of the families,” he said, “who encounter Chevra Kadisha at their most difficult hour and need any support we can lend them, both human and technological.”

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