GEN459 We must embellish our performance of mitzvoth.  The Sages of blessed memory have cautioned us regarding the honor and esteem that must be accorded to a mitzvah, and they have said Shabbat 133b: “This is my God and I will adorn Him.”  Exodus 15:2 – adorn yourself before Him with mitzvoth: with beautiful tzitzis, beautiful tefillin, a beautiful Torah scroll, a beautiful lulav…”  Similarly, they said Baba Kama 9b “ [One should expend] up to one third [extra] for the embellishment of a mitzvah.  Up to this amount comes from his account [“He will receive his reward in the world-to-come” -- Rashi].  More than this is from the Eternal’s account [“He will be repaid in this world” –Rashi].” The wisdom derived from the lips of our Sages of blessed memory clearly informs us that merely performing a mitzvah [in a routine way] is unsatisfactory.  Rather, it must be honored and embellished.  Abel brought an offering from the firstborn of his sheep and from the fattest ones, while Cain’s [offering] was from the chaff of the produce of the ground, as expounded upon by our Sages of blessed memory Genesis Rabbah 22:5.  [The verse does not say that Cain’s offering was from the first ripened fruit, which were esteemed a special delicacy; Isaiah 28:4, Jeremiah 24:2]. And what was the outcome? “And the Eternal showed regard to Abel and his offering, but to Cain and his offering, He showed no regard.”  PATH 123-4