These last two weeks the
parshiot explain in depth the concept of
kedusha - holiness. The Torah enumerates various people, time, items and places where we are supposed to bring
kedusha into our lives. The
parshiot tell us that:
* G-d is holy
* The nation needs to act holy
* The kohanim have an extra level of holiness
* Sacrifices are holy
* Certain times are holy
Oddly enough, the end of this kedusha section ends with the mekalel - the one who cursed G-d, as the pasuk states:
...וַיִּקֹּב בֶּן הָאִשָּׁה הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִית אֶת הַשֵּׁם וַיְקַלֵּל וַיָּבִיאוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל משֶׁה
And the son of the Israelite woman pronounced the [Divine] Name and cursed. So they brought him to Moses...
What is the connection between the section of
kedusha and the story of the
mekalel?
The idea of G-d being holy is difficult for humans to comprehend. We say in קדושה that G-d is
קָדוֹשׁ, קָדוֹשׁ, קָדוֹשׁ, ה' צְבָאוֹת, מְלֹא כָל הָאָֽרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ.
"Holy, holy, holy, is Hashem the Master of all Legions."
and immediately that sentence is followed by the congregation exclaiming
בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד ה' מִמְּקוֹמוֹ
"The entire world is filled with His glory."
Our key to understanding G-d's
kedusha is through
kavod. Rav Wolbe writes (Alei Shur vol. II pg. 225) that we can glean from here that wherever there is
kedusha there is also an element of
kavod (glory).
We can also apply this idea to our own
kedusha. Since every person has been infused with a holy
neshama, and therefore possesses a level of
kedusha, in turn this
kedusha necessitates that one conduct himself with
kavod. And since all humans have a soul which is
kodesh, this necessitates that we treat others with
kavod as well.
Someone who does not understand this essence of
kedusha, which is
kavod, becomes a
mekalel - someone who curses. Someone who has
kavod for others, as we have been learning this year, treats others with heaviness and seriousness, as the word כבד also means heavy (
kaveid). A
mekalel treats others lightly - קל. When one behaves with seriousness toward another person, he shows him
kavod, while if he makes light of another person he may end up cursing him.
The Torah connects these two concepts, as they are opposites of each other. As we have been doing all year, we must constantly strive to treat each other with
kavod because of the
kedusha that each person possesses. Having this recognition will help us act in the
kodesh ways these
parshiot demand from us in all areas of our life.
Based on http://baishamussar.blogspot.com/2012/05/325-emor.html
On Thursday, in honor of Lag BaOmer - with the help of Idanit and Roni - our students learned how to treat each other with kavod. As an antidote to the plight of the students of Rabbi Akiva, who died because of their lack of kavod to one another, our students learned how to act with kavod and treat others with respect in a number of ways. After seeing a skit by Roni and Idanit, the 5th graders led their groups in learning four concepts connected with kavod: giving the benefit of the doubt, not speaking ill about another, not embarrassing another, and treating others as you want to be treated.
The next and final Family Learning for 5775 will be on Sunday, May 17th at 9:45. That day is Yom Yerushalayim and at Family Learning we will be taking a tour of the eight gates around the city. Rabbi Dror Saadia will be the tour guide! We hope to see you there to learn and celebrate Yom Yerushalayim. 
Lots of wonderful things are happening at Maimonides School! 