“I do kindness for thousands of generations to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Shemos 20:6

For many years, the Super Bowl MVP has been saying, “I’m going to Disney World!” Eli Manning is no different. On Monday, he was at the Magic Kingdom in a parade sitting right next to Mickey Mouse. Manning completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards to help the Giants win another Super Bowl title. Manning now gets another Super Bowl ring, millions of dollars, and a trip to Disney!

Let’s think for a moment what Eli Manning did to deserve this reward. He played in a game which lasts for 60 minutes – actually he only played in approximately half of the game as he only plays when his team is on offense. He threw the ball for a total of 296 yards – I probably throw that much when I have a catch with my son for couple of minutes on a Sunday afternoon. He didn’t bring world peace. He didn’t fix our economy. He didn’t cook dinner for anyone. Yet he still received an amazing reward.

The Torah promises us if we keep the commandments then we will be rewarded for them. Well, where is my millions of dollars? Where is my trip to Disney?

Our reward is something much better than Manning ever received. In Pirkei Avos we learn the reward for a mitzvah is a mitzvah. When we do one mitzvah, we are rewarded with the opportunity to perform another mitzvah. For example, Avraham Avinu served three passerbys (which were angels) under a tree and we were rewarded with the mitzvah of Sukkah. Avraham did not take a string or shoelace from the King of Sodom. The reward is the mitzvos of Tzitzis and the straps of Tefillin for doing this. And this reward is truly the greatest reward we could get!

Imagine if you had the opportunity to meet Eli Manning. You could have a private meeting with just you and him. Who would not jump at the opportunity?

Every mitzvah we do, we get closer to Hashem. Every mitzvah we do brings us a little nearer to him. If getting close to Eli Manning is something many people strive for, how much more so should we strive to get closer to Hashem, the Ruler of the Entire Universe! When we perform a mitzvah, not only do we get the reward for that mitzvah of coming closer to Hashem but we are given the opportunity to get even closer!

One final thought: people read this and may be inspired but in the back of their mind they think, “this might be true, but I have no chance of getting a front row seat. Even if I start doing mitzvos today, there are so many who were greater than me. Even if I perform a few mitzvos, I’ll never reach the highest levels.” Remember, Eli Manning was 30 for 40 on his passes – that means 25% of every throw he made did not hit its target. He was certainly not perfect. The Giants were 9-7 in the regular season – that is an embarrassing record. They barely even made the playoffs. But now they are the world champions and Eli Manning is the Super Bowl MVP! You don’t need to be perfect!

Good Shabbos
-yes
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