Is it odd that Ruth Ginsburg’s body will lie in repose at the Supreme Court?

I’m sure her family agreed to this so I have no need to make a judgement. It certainly seems fitting to honor her in this way. I’m certain the casket is not open.

@janbb Total agreement from me about no judgment. I not only assume the family agreed, but I think possibly she agreed before dying. I assume they keep the body chilled somehow rather than any sort of embalming. It seemed to me she would care about the Jewish traditions, but you never know where people bend or aren’t worried about specific customs.

I wondered if there have been other times where famous Jewish people of great honor or stature have had delayed burials to allow “the people” to see or be near them before their final resting place.

I think there is some sort of rule that if a body must wait to be buried it can’t be left alone? Have you heard that? Like when an autopsy is necessary. Obviously, her body is not alone at any time so it’s not an issue if that is correct.

I think her family agreeing would go without saying.

Just to add that I see this discussed elsewhere on the internet (for one example, a NY Times etiquette group). People there have the same discussion as here, some explaining why there may be an exception for RBG, some saying it’s wrong, some saying it’s nobody’s business but her family’s, some saying it’s ok that we bring it up, discuss it, speculate about it, no disrespect to RBG. I see nothing wrong with discussing it or speculating about it. We may all learn something from the discussion.

@jca2 I wasn’t aware those discussions are going on, I will have to google. Thanks.

@jca2 The point about her family agreeing is that there are certain Jewish rituals that would usually be being observed so that it is important to note that they are clearly in alignment with her being mourned this way.

@janbb I think @jca2‘s point, and mine, was just to know if it is unusual for this sort of exception to be made. No one was judging, I think @jca2 and I were surprised anyone would interpret the Q that way. Especially, that anyone would assume it might be done without the family’s consent. Obviously, it would be up to the family, the state does not have ownership of the Justice’s body. Moreover, as I said, I assume the family had discussed it with her before she died.

I understand all that. Wasn’t trying to start an argument.

@janbb: You specifically said “no need to make a judgement.” Like @JLeslie said, no one was judging.

Perhaps it would have been clearer if I had said, “I have no need to make a judgement.” It’s not a question I have a strong opinion about.