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If a former Jewish president dies, how would the funeral be handled? Would he or she lie in state or would the funeral be the next day?
When a Jew dies the tradition is to bury as soon as possible. Lying in state is not a Jewish Tradition. I imagine that if a Jew was President and wanted a traditional funeral that a Jewish funeral would be observed. Some of the largest funerals in modern history have been those for great Torah leaders both in the US and Israel with over 300,000 people following the bier to the graveyard. A great honor to the deceased indeed. Here are some of the news stories: Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and Rabbi Elazar Man Shach.
Warmly,
Rabbi Zvi Holland
Phoenix Community Kollel
