Well cell phones are partly meant to stay in touch with family but this story in the New York Post Sunday, takes things a step further. Three years after he was buried with his beloved cell phone, New York defense lawyer John Jacobs continues to receive voice-mail messages.
Jacobs’ family buried him with his fully charged Motorola T720 phone after he died of pancreatic cancer.
His cell number is etched into his gravestone under the words “Rest in Peace,”wife, and Jacobs wife Marian Seltzer, also a defense lawyer, continues to pay his monthly $55 phone bill.
The first call after death came during the funeral from Jacobs’ son, Simon. “The poor grave diggers. I thought they’d have a heart attack,” Seltzer said.
Seltzer and her two sons, who regularly leave messages, are comforted by the not able to take your call words Jacobs left: “Hi. You’ve reached the voice mail of John Jacobs. After you hear the beep, leave a voice mail and I will return your call.”
Seltzer said she keeps her husband up to date on sports news and how their sons are doing.
“Some people talk to God,” Seltzer said. “I talk to my deceased husband.”
(Source: ChattahBox / NY Post)
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34 Responses
1. The message is being received by the cell phone server, the phone is long dead.
2.It isn’t derekh eretz to mock frei Jews in this way. This article should be removed. If you want to make fun of non-frum Jews, perhaps you should stick to Madoff (who misplaced $50 billion) or Bernacke (who quite legally printed several trillion).
mudneh
My question is why are they paying $55/month. They could get a pay as you go phone for $25 renewal every 3 months. He ain’t using up the minutes.
This is queer, I would be hesitant to use Ms. Selzer for any professional advice.
I understand that there is a fax machine at the Kever of HaAdmor MiLubavitch, HaRav Menachem Mendel Schneerson, ZT”L, for messages from Chassidim who believe he did not die. Perhaps a cell phone should be placed there, as well.
HOW DO THEY GET THE BATTERY TO LAST SO LONG!!!! Mine has to charge every day.
Avraham, It’s not only for “Chassidim who believe he did not die”. Many other chasidim put kvitlach on their Rebbes’ kevorim. Ever been to Lizhensk? The Rebbe Reb Meilech was niftar long before the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and he’s still getting Kvitlach.
#5 The fax machine at the kever is for kvittlach, so that people from all over the world can send a kvittle.
How is it possible that she “keeps him posted regularly” if vzw vm only holds 20 voicemails — who’s deleting them!? Lol the whole story is kinda queer, but cute!
Unrealistic battery length + email capacity = Babameiser. This can’t be for real. A Frelichen Chanukah To All
I hope that Mr. Jacobs is zocheh to t’chiyas hameisim, “im she’ar mesei amchah Yisroel”, at which time he will have many calls to return…..
I know someone very professional and sensitive that can help these people. (Not too expensive either.)
Brings new meaning to “The line is dead”, but just imagine the day US phones will have a different sound/message (like in Israel) to indicate call waiting, or in the UK (the party on the phone knows you are waiting)and the wife calls……
what’s his number I want to call him up
I sent him a txt.
BS”D
The only explanation I can think of is that the phone is hooked up via its adapter to an AC power source such as that used to light the cemetery (ghastly though it may be, it is not difficult to set up an underground power outlet once you have wiring in place). Otherwise, please send me two of those batteries, one for Motorola and one for Sony Ericsson :)!
Nevertheless, something would go wrong once a phone is underground for three years. I also wonder whether there is reception underground.
Verdict: This is a hoax unless a reporter bothered to verify whether or not the line works. And if it does, where is the phone really located…in a drawer in his wife’s office, perhaps???
I believe the phone is for billing purposes only.
i called, i got the answering machine, but it was jst some dude screaming, ‘Help, I’ve been buried alive’!
Voice mail is not dependent on the phone being charged. The phone could be (and most likely is) long dead. What is required is for the account to be active. Therefore anyone can leave a message; the message resides on a server at Verizon.
I also assume that the family listens to and deletes the messages regularly, they just use the service therapeutically. Hey, $55/month is still cheaper than a live therapist!
what’s his number I wuold like to call him
I’m glad to see this is the top news story! If this type of story made news headlines every day, we’d be in good shape!
I gues like everyone else this guy’s business is in “der erd”
Is he due a free upgrade yet? Can you move up in Shamayim instead of taking the newer model?
This 55.00 a month could have been put to better use such a memorial fund to help others. To each their own.
Many, many years ago — before cell phones were in common use (perhaps before they were invented) — Arnold Fine told a side-splittingly funny story in his weekly column in The Jewish Press about a man who feared being accidentally buried alive and so, as per his instructions, was laid to rest with a working telephone line in his casket. He told about the adventures of the Bell Telephone technicians at the grave site, and several other aspects of what clearly was an absurd situation. But best of all was his description of the family receiving the monthly bill from Bell Telephone, only to discover that …. presumably from inside the casket … someone had been making long distance calls!
Mayer Fertig
#1 there was no mocking in the article
only an objective report. quote for me the mocking if you disagree.
the mocking was in your eyes (and probably everyone else who hears of this ridiculous behavior)
Ov v’yidoni ?
for all the people that thnk this article is a hoax I recently attended a hakomos matzeiva two kevarim away from mister jacobs kever. It is a) definetly not a hoax B) more then one person dialed the phone# which is etched on the side of the stone and voice mail does work. Of course I will not talk about the possible halachic or ethical issues involved with this however keep in mind that while i would not publish the phone number on the matzeva, we all keep tape recordings, pictures and videos of relatives who have all gone to the olam haemes to help us stay close and remember them. Additionally, plenty of us as well when we got to a kaver talk to the niftar we should only have simchas.
rebono shel olum help us out. moshiach must be on the way. we are surronded by meshugoyim, people who love dogs more than people, and the crazy femenist movement! bin laden is still not brought to justice etc….
Ya think the phone’s dead?
Now, that’s a good business; GravePhones. It’ll be free to call within network.
I think that as a fitting tribute to her late husband and a fine lesson for her children Mrs. Seltzer should be giving the $55 a month to a reputable charity ….maybe one that feeds the many hungry out there. I’m sorry for the families loss but you can help the living… the poor man is gone let him rest in peace.
Good job he wasn’t buried with a computer. A worm would have made its way in it by now!
As an expert in the field of technology, allow me to say that while the situation described in the article is highly feasible, it is both impractical and improbable. My deepest respects to the Seltzer family and their departed, but this story does not come across as valid.
What type of battery did his phone have, that it is still working 3 years later? I think this is a great idea to call and share news with dad… Most of us talk to the departed a few times a week, but not with a cell phone.
I am sorry for your loss, Aunt Marian.