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Mourning At The Monitor

If you can't be at a loved one's funeral, watch it on your computer.

Jonathan Dorfman checks the video equipment at the Dorfman Chapel.

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Just as technology continues to change
the way we conduct our personal and
professional lives, it is also affecting the
way we handle many of the traditions
surrounding death.
For families whose members live in
various parts of the country and even
around the world, the Jewish custom of
burying the dead as quickly as possible
can prevent relatives and friends from
attending funerals in distant locales.
Others are unable to travel due to physi-
cal or financial constraints.
Many people in these situations are
discovering that virtual funerals are the
next best thing to being there.
Myriam Nederlander of Oak Park, who
died in January, was buried in Israel,
following a funeral service at Hebrew

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June 30 d 2011

Memorial Chapel in Oak Park. Her hus-
Memorial Chapel.
band, David, found the virtual funeral to
Jonathan Dorfman of the Dorfman
be an effective alternative for the many
Chapel said that some families were
mourners in Israel and other locations
initially apprehensive about the idea of
that were able to watch from afar.
webcasting funeral services when his
"We were told there were a lot of peo-
organization first began using live audio
ple who watched it online; they felt like
broadcasts about five years ago. Dorfman,
they were part of it:' said Nederlander.
who now offers full video capabilities,
"It really makes sense. It's a great tool for
said most people have since come to
people who are not able to come."
realize the benefits the technology pro-
Virtual funerals via live and
vides. He stressed that the
archived webcasts, electronic
webcasts are intended for
yahrtzeit (death anniversary)
those who are truly unable
notifications and instant access
to attend a service.
to information regarding ser-
"We don't want people
vices, shivah and donations
to say, 'I don't have to go; I
are available from the three
can just watch it online:" he
Jewish funeral homes in Metro
said.
Detroit: Ira Kaufman Chapel in
David Techner of the Ira
Southfield, Dorfman Chapel in
Kaufman Chapel said there
Farmington Hills and Hebrew
David Tec hner
has been an extremely posi-

tive response to the webcasts.
"We've had an incredible response
from people who couldn't come in:' he
said. "Snowbirds in Florida, Arizona,
California — it's an outreach of great
comfort to a lot of people."
The first and most prominent use of
online technology is in the area of email
notifications for upcoming anniversaries
of deaths. Besides saving considerable
quantities of paper, email makes it easier
for those who move or have more than
one residence to receive their notices in a
timely manner. The Ira Kaufman Chapel
annually sends out more than 44,000
yahrtzeit notices via email.
"We've been amazed at how apprecia-
tive people are that we're not sending
paper:' said Techner, adding that printed
cards are still available for those who
prefer regular mail.

