Eli had seen more than his share of dead bodies. There were those glossy photos of accident victims, along with some unpleasant viewings in the autopsy room. There were crime victims when he represented the survivors. And then there were the open-casket funerals of friends and relatives. Everybody has to deal with those. Mouths stitched into fake smiles and too many layers of pancake makeup. Eyeglasses, if the person wore them in life, to lend a touch of realism and familiarity. To observant Jews, the burial must be within three days, without embalming, so the caskets are typically closed and sealed. Doing it that way would be a blessing, in Eli’s opinion. People think somehow it’s a chance to say good-bye. Along with those resolutions the shrinks mistakenly call closure. But there is no c
