Page 167 - BERESHIT

Shem and Yefet took a garment and covered their father. Shem initiated
the act and exerted himself more than Yefet and is thus given more credit
for the mitzvah.

Shem received tzitzit as a reward for his efforts, which covers us in our
lifetime, whereas Yefet was awarded burial, which shelters the body only
after death.

The mitzvah of tzitzit has the ability to protect its wearer from sin. An
example of its special protection is the man who was careful in keeping
the mitzvah of tzitzit, which miraculously saved him from harlotry. The
Vilna Gaon cried on his deathbed saying that in the next world there is
no more opportunity to do mitzvot. Here one can do such a lofty and
illustrious mitzvah such as tzitzit, that involves such little effort and small
cost to do, and yet yields unfathomable reward.

Just making the effort to do a mitzvah is itself a part of the mitzvah. By
doing so, one packages his mitzvah with a beautiful wrapping, similar to
the way one beautifies a mitzvah and adorns himself with a beautiful lulav
and etrog.

We should exert ourselves to do mitzvot despite the difficulty involved,
no differently than the way we would welcome a wealthy individual or
take care of a crying baby. It is well worth the effort.