Dutch Jews soon will be able to pay virtual visits to deceased loved ones and ancestors. The Nederlands Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap, the umbrella organization of the Orthodox Jewish community, decided to publish online the texts on Jewish tombstones from before 1940. Tombstones are currently being photographed.

The initiative is in cooperation with the Israeli Akevot Foundation, which focuses on the history of Dutch Jews. In addition to Hebrew and translated texts from the grave markers, the database will contain personal, genealogical and historical information.

Many cemetery registers and books were lost during World War II. NIK and the Akevot Foundation aim to fill the existing gaps by building the database. — jta