The Wall Street Journal
November 6, 2012
It would be a mistake … to say that the webcast dehumanized or even sullied the experience.
My grandfather died on Halloween. Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, none of the New York family members could attend the funeral in Massachusetts. Fortunately, another option became available: The ceremony was streamed online, and so my wife, daughter and I gathered around a laptop in our living room to watch the live webcast.
The rabbi began by giving technology center stage, poignantly acknowledging that the virtual participants played an important role in honoring the deceased’s memory. After that, technology receded into the background for the Massachusetts crowd. My grandmother looked like a bereaved widow. Online coverage didn’t affect her demeanor—or anyone else’s.
At my house, however, things were different. The technology raised all sorts of problems and questions.
Read the full article in The Wall Street Journal
Thanks to ConnectingDirectors for alerting us to this article.
