Hom ographs are words that share the same spelling regardless of their pronunciation.  A fascinating example of this is the Hebrew words "crown" (Zer) and "commoner" (Zar). Why do these opposing concepts share the same root?

True greatness has no traces of loftiness. It's the ability to be in touch and relate to ourselves and the world around us.  Moshe was adorned with a diadem of glory.  Yet his greatness was his humility.  A Jewish crown comes with no pretension or superiority.

Our tradition describes various crowns.  Yet, the one that transcends them all is the Keter Shem Tov - the crown of a good name (Pirkei Avot 4:17).  While this crown encompasses many exceptional qualities, it is ultimately earned in the street through the way we connect to others. 

Jacob dreamed of a ladder that reached the heavens but was firmly rooted on earth.  His goal was straightforward: to attain the loftiest of heights you always must be rooted in the world around you. Let us all be adorned with the "common crown."