Around one hundred representatives from some twenty countries attended the ‘Working Seminar on the Management of Jewish Immovable Heritage’, including Jewish heritage organizations, community bodies, and government representatives.
In his address, Mr. Bindinger suggested that the widespread use of Smartphone’s and the emergence of new Hi-Tech digital applications should be embraced to involve the public in contributing current data reports, geo-position coordinates and images to a central database. Engaging a wider spectrum will raise awareness and attract more visitors to heritage sites, thereby resulting in (a) improved security, (b) higher likelihood of individuals adopting specific cemetery restorations, and (c) ultimately gain the cooperation of the regional and federal governments to contribute towards the protection of heritage sites and implement legislation that ensures their preservation.
The conference was organized by Ruth Ellen Gruber, coordinator of Jewish Heritage Europe, with the support of several prominent associations, amongst them the Rothschild Foundation Europe; the World Monuments Fund; the JDC, and others.
The conference also heard from the newly appointed Chair of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, Mrs. Leslie Weis.
Negotiations took place on additional data sharing agreements, which are likely in the coming months to positively impact on the qualitative and quantitative nature of cemetery data entering the Lo-Tishkach database.
