Over the past few months, the Chevra Kadisha in Eretz Yisroel has invested significant resources in upgrading its technological services, in hopes of helping those looking for a loved-one’s final resting place to find it more easily.
“In the last couple of months we have developed an SMS grave-locator system,” Yossi Zrock, head of Chevra Kadisha IT Services, told Yedioth Ahronoth.
“If, for example, you’ve arrived at a cemetery and you don’t where the gravestone is, text the name of the deceased to *4664 and directions will be sent to you within seconds.”
Chevra Kadisha, he added, is currently developing a GPS grave-locater system for mobile phones. “Such technologies are required for the bigger cemeteries, like the one in Holon, which has ever 220,000 graves. People can get lost.”
Soon, Zrock promised, cemetery goers would be able to rent a PDA upon arrival, for only NIS 20 (about $5.3). The device will lead them directly to the desired gravesite, and will allow them, en route, to view photos of the descend, read about his life and access the required prayers.
Later on, the company will make auxiliary services, such as subscribing to grave maintenance services or booking a cantor, available through the PDA as well.
The burial society’s Tel Aviv district launched a new website not too long ago, with a substantial investment of NIS 500,000 ($133,000). The website allows families to host individual commemoration pages, including a special reminder system, which alerts them to coming anniversaries a week in advance.
“The details found in the commemoration pages will also be available through the information stations in the cemeteries,’ said Rabbi Avraham Manlah, director of Chevra Kadisha Tel Aviv.
The website also provides the free option of lighting a virtual candle for the dead, or placing a virtual stone or wreath on the grave. The virtual tokens are collected in the commemoration page.
Chevra Kadisha Tel Aviv also offers a live internet feed of funeral services. Many of the cemeteries across Israel already sport cameras, which allow friends and family unable to attend the service to see it online. Broadcasts fees run between NIS 200-300 ($53-$80). A CD of the service is available for an additional NIS 50 ($13).
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4 Responses
”You have arrived at your final destination.”
they should invest in security resources as well to make sure people can’t put in a random name (or a name on an unknown grave) and find out everything about the person (& possibly their family)…has anyone given thought to this??
Chevra Kadisha is a local outfit, each city has its own.
This article is written as though there is a national organization, which is incorrect.
The article makes it sound like there is a national Checra Kadisha, but in reality each city has a seperate one. The one in Yerushalayim is not connected to the one in Tel Aviv, noter to any other city for that matter.