An Observance (Ash Wednesday)

This past Wednesday saw the Catholic and Christian observance of Ash Wednesday. This religious holiday is recognized as a day of repentance and fasting and signifies the beginning of Lent.

As someone who does not have a strong religious background, I have never paid much attention to this holiday or its proceedings. I can vividly remember the first time I recognized the ash mark on someone. I was still in high school and it occurred while I was working. Initially, I thought it was a scar on the person's forehead. As more and more customers came into the restaurant with the similar markings, I figured out that it was not a coincidence.

Walking around this past Wednesday and seeing so many people with this now familiar mark made me think about Caleb and how he would perceive such an occurrence. How would he act to see so many people walking around with ash on their foreheads? Would it be an uncomfortable experience? Would it be of any alarm for him? It is still something I observe curiously, even though I have a slightly better understanding of the holiday. For someone who has never observed the holiday or seen it in action, I am sure that Caleb will have many questions and possibly experience some alienation.

I would like to get some firsthand accounts of similar experiences and how they were dealt with by Jewish students. I will be continuing my attempts to get in contact with Jewish students to give my voice informing a proper perspective.