Up Front

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Virtual Viddui

Ira Kaufman Chapel moves onto the Internet,
and other Jewish funeral homes may follow.

JULIE WIENER

Staff Writer

on.-Sat. 10 - 6 Thurs. 10 - 9

It's An In The Mix

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ACCENTS
IN NEEDLEPOINT

Contemporary
Designs

626-3042

12/5
1997

12

IN THE ORCHARD MALL
WEST BLOOMFIELD

D

avid Techner is a self-pro-
claimed computer illiterate.
"I'm so computer stupid
it's pathetic," he says.
But with a little nudging from his
children, the funeral director started
up a website for the Ira Kaufman
Chapel last month, making it the first
local Jewish funeral home to appear in
cyberspace.
The impetus came from Techner's
son, Chad, who returned from school
one day after talking to a friend whose
father has a website for his business.
"He said we ought to have one, and
when I asked why, he said, 'What do
you do in chapel when you take a
bunch of kids on a tour?' It's a way to
educate people," says Techner.
The chapel's brand new website
features over 10 screens, with informa-
tion on Jewish funeral traditions,
advice on guiding children through
the death of a loved one and back-
ground on the Ira Kaufman Chapel.

not know how to respond when a Jew
Highlights include an easily down-
dies, and I'm in the process right now
loaded Viddui prayer in both Hebrew
of doing a basic page on differences
and English as well as an e-mail ques-
tion-and-answer service.
between Jewish funerals and Christian
funerals that explains things like what
According to Techner, one of the
chapel's directors, the site has been a
is shivah and why is it done?" says
Techner.
huge success.
"It's been an incredible ride. We had
"One person e-mailed that a friend
died and by the time he called the
1,613 hits in the first week and have
funeral home, the friend
been averaging well over a thou-
was in the ground," adds
sand a week since," he says.
Ira Kaufman's
Techner. "He wanted to
Although most people call-
David and Ilene
know, 'what's the rush?'"
ing up the site — accessed
Techner, with
Techner stresses that the
through the keywords "Jewish"
their computer
website aims to be a
and "funeral" — are local,
consultants
resource rather than a
Techner reports receiving hits
Stephanie (12)
high-tech commercial. And
from all over the world. And
and Chad (16).
questions are still welcome
the site has triggered regular e-
via old-fashioned means:
mail queries which Techner —
over the phone and in person.
with the assistance of daughter
"I don't know of anyone who
Stephanie and son Chad — answers
has done as extensive a website as us
regularly.
in the funeral business," says Techner.
The e-mails have generated ideas
for expanding the website, including a
"Some websites push their programs
forthcoming page that explains tradi-
and use them to sell caskets, but ours
tions to gentiles faced with the death
is more on the educational side. I'm
not trying to sell anybody anything."
of a Jewish friend.
Neither of Ira Kaufman's local corn-
"A lot of Christians out there do

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