Meaningful Schmutz
28 February 1990
8:00am
Music Theory II
As always, Dr. Arlin strode into the classroom precisely at 7:59am. Only on this particular day, she had a bit of schmutz on her forehead.
It is a darn good thing that I thought to silently count to five before saying anything. Because the poor sod who inquired was on the receiving end of quite the lecture.
In my defense, I had never seen anyone observe Ash Wednesday prior to that brisk, snowy day in February. Given the observance includes ashes placed on one’s forehead by the priest or minister, I imagine I would have noticed it.
Ash Wednesday, for those of the Mosaic persuasion, is the start of the forty-six day period before Easter, commonly known as Lent. If childhood experience is to serve as the basis for my knowledge, then Lent would be the period when one gives up chocolate. Seriously. Every one of my Catholic friends gave up chocolate for Lent — every year. Leading me to the misguided conclusion that Lent doesn’t really work…and it’s better to just do the Ten Days of Repentance, culminating in Yom Kippur.
Dr. Arlin was, without question, the most demanding and most intimidating professor with whom I studied. I also learned more about music theory from her than from anyone else. I learned as well how to stand tall and walk through one’s day while observing a religious behaviour that was unknown to most.
I have thought of her every Ash Wednesday for the past twenty-one years and pray that her Lenten season is filled with meaning and purpose.
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
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Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!! 
Frume Sarah's World 
You will be pleased to learn that Dr. Mary Arlin, now Professor Emerita of Music at your alma mater, last year was awarded the Gail Boyd de Stwolinski Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Music Theory Teaching and Scholarship. This national award, given every two years by the Gail Boyd de Stwolinski Center for Music Theory Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma, recognizes outstanding and distiguished teaching in music theory courses.
Good job with the Google search, Zayde!!!
Dr. Arlin is completely deserving of the recognition. When they say “she wrote the book,” in this case, it’s true. We used a text book that she co-authored.
Daunting, to say the least.
A lovely tribute to Dr. Arlin. May she go from strength to strength.
So, what do you know about hot cross buns that often sit side by side with hamantaschen in bakery windows at this season?
Exactly what you suspect — sign of the cross. Though with pagen origins (like all good rituals!), it was co-opted by the Church and became custom to eat on Good Friday.
a facebook friend of mine (a Christian friend, actually) posted yesterday “can someone explain the ashes on the forehead thing?” – so it’s not just the Jews who don’t know about this tradition.
my friends all gave up chocolate too! i prefer the one-day fasting thing myself.
That is very sad, actually. It’s important to know about one’s own religion.
I hate when people don’t know about their own religious traditions. But that seems to be what we have goin’ on these days. Great post. I love how you get right to the heart of the matter. I think my post on Lent would have been 1200 words. 🙂