Expert: Jim Samoh - 8/4/2007

Question
Is it true that according to Jewish law during the first century a person had to have been dead three full days in order to be declared legally dead?  If true, do you know of a specific web site where I can print this information for a research paper I am working on ?

Answer
From my research I see no specific requirement that a person had to be dead a certain amount of time to be declared dead.  Jewish tradition and the Talmud specifically require that a body be buried as quickly as possible. The bodies were generally wrapped in clean linen and then spiced with flowers and oils to hide the stench of decay.  I hope this helps, for info on Jewish burial practies try www.myjewishlearning.com