How does "v'Anvehu" teach to be beautiful in front of Him with Mitzvos?

Maharal: Hash-m is revealed to man according to the person. Tanchuma (Yisro) says, at the sea He appeared like a Gibor making war. At Sinai He appeared like a Chacham teaching Torah. He appeared to them in the days of Shlomo like a youth, according to their deeds - "Mar'ehu ka'Levanon Bachur ka'Arazim." In the days of Daniel He appeared like a Zaken teaching Torah, for it is proper for Torah to come from a Zaken. When Yisrael beauty themselves with His Mitzvos, this is beauty for Yisrael. The Mitzvos are considered like "Kanfei Yonah Nechpah va'Kesef v'Evroseha bi'Yrakrak Charutz." So Hash-m appears to them - it turns out that they beauty Him!

Maharsha: The Mechilta asks, can one beauty Hash-m?! Rather, be beautiful in front of Him with Mitzvos. This is like "you will go after Hash-m." Is this possible?! ("Hash-m is a consuming fire"!) Rather, go after His Midos (Sotah 14a). Just like He is gracious and merciful, you should be, like Aba Sha'ul taught here.

Etz Yosef: "V'Anvehu" implies that he beautifies another (i.e. Hash-m). How do we expound Hisna'eh - beautify yourself? Via beautifying yourself with Mitzvos, you beauty Him.

Does beautiful Tzitzis refer to the garment, or the strings?

Rav Elyashiv: Simply, this refers to the strings - they are the Mitzvah! There is no Mitzvah to wear the garment. However, nowadays that there is a special garment to fulfill Mitzvas Tzitzis, it should be beautiful, for it is a garment special for a Mitzvah. Above (125a), we say that Parzumei, i.e. worn out Taleisim, less than three by three fingers are Muktzah. The Rashba says that they were Taleisei Mitzvah, so one may not use them to clean filth. This shows that in the days of the Gemara, they had garments special for the Mitzvah! It seems that it is a Mitzvah to beauty them. The text of Me'iri, and Rif and Rosh (Sukah 16a, and 3:12) was 'Talis Na'eh.'

Rav Elyashiv (latter version): Nowadays there is a garment special for a Mitzvah, so it is a Mitzvah to beautify it. In the days of Chazal, garments were not special for the Mitzvah. If it had four corners, one put Tzitzis on it. There is Mitzvah to put a Mezuzah on a house - one need not make a beautiful house due to this!

Why does it mention Lishmo? This is Me'akev. Here we discuss Hidur Mitzvah!

Rav Elyashiv: If a scribe needed to write Hash-m's name, but he intended to write 'Yehudah' and omitted the 'Daled', R. Yehudah permits tracing the quill over the letters, to be Mekadesh the name. Chachamim say, this is not a choice name of Hash-m. This is due to Zeh Keli v'Anvehu (Gitin 20a). Via writing initially Lo Lishmah, this leads to lack of Hidur.

Rav Elyashiv: R. Yehudah permitted only for one Azkarah, but if all were Lo Lishmah and traced over, no, for the Sefer is Menumar (spotted - Gitin 54b). We can explain one must write Lishmah to avoid this. (NOTE: All disqualify in such a case - it is not merely lack of Hidur! - PF)

Should only a Sefer Torah be wrapped in nice silk, or also other Mitzvos?

Rav Elyashiv: It is only for a Sefer Torah. (Magihah - Sukah 36b supports this. Wrapping a Lulav in gold threads is a problem, due to Chatzitzah. Anything that beautifies the Mitzvah is not a Chatzitzah! Beautifying [the case of] a Mezuzah to honor the Mitzvah; this is not v'Anvehu.) Perhaps a Sefer Torah it different due to the Isur to touch its parchment, even if he washed his hands, unlike other Kisvei ha'Kodesh, Tefilin and Mezuzos.

How does Aba Sha'ul expound "v'Anvehu"?

Rashi: This is like 'Ani v'Hu'. I will make myself like Him, and cling to His ways.

Etz Yosef: Perhaps Rashi means that we read "v'Anvehu" like 'Ani v'Hu.'

Rav Elyashiv: He agrees with the first Tana, just he adds that also man must try to be beautiful in his deeds. Also Sha'agas Arye (50) says so.

Maharsha: Be beautiful in front of Him with deeds.

We say (Ta'anis 7, Nedarim 50) beautiful Torah is in an ugly Kli (R. Yehoshua)!

Iyun Yakov: This was due to pride. A man becomes haughty if he is too beautiful. However, a Chacham should dress in nice garment and be beautiful in Mitzvos. If Revav (a stain of fat or wax) is found on a Chacham's garment, "Kol Mesan'ai Ahavu Maves." However, we say below (145b) that Chachmei Bavel wear special clothing because they are not Bnei Torah. This implies that real Chachamim do not need nice clothing! In Nedarim, we said that beautiful Torah is like wine. It lasts better in an ugly Kli (earthenware), but to drink it, it is better in quality Kelim. "Ki Ner Mitzvah v'Sorah Or" - according to one Perush (Sotah 21a), a Mitzvah shields (from punishment) only temporarily (when doing it). Torah protects forever. If so (Torah must last in him), one should not wear fancy clothing, so Torah will be preserved in him and not forgotten! (NOTE: Even if Torah did not protect, there is an obligation to learn Torah and remember it, so one should avoid fancy clothing! - PF)

What is Kalba?

Rashi: It is pitch of trees (sap); it exudes without cooking.

Aruch: It is butter. Binyamin - in Targum Yerushalmi. Lava is butter. (NOTE: I could not find this Targum Yerushalmi. - PF)

Why did Rava reveal how to make the ointment, but not Shmuel's teaching?

Rav Elyashiv: It was proper for Rava to reveal how to make the ointment. This is like Hashavas Aveidah - people should not need to spend for cures. It was not improper due to reducing doctors' income. If one has a store, and another gives for free, this is a Mitzvah. The storeowner has no claim 'you reduced my income!' Why didn't he reveal Shmuel's teaching? Since there is no Choleh in front of him, he is not obligated due to Hashavas Aveidah. The doctor need not reveal it, for it is his income. One who loses income to perform Hashavas Aveidah, he can demand compensation from the loser!

Chashukei Chemed citing Chinuch Beis Yitzchak (34): Rava revealed how to make an ointment to heal a circumcised baby, for it is often needed. Perhaps it is improper [for doctors] to take wages for the Mitzvah of healing it. He left them a cure that he did not reveal, so they will still have income. Chashukei Chemed - is there an Isur to reveal cures?! Rashash says that Rava used to hear cures from them. Perhaps therefore, he was careful to leave income for them.

If one washes his face and does not dry it well, Nakatra Lei Chaspanisa - what is this?

Rashi #1: His face will crack.

Rashi #2: It is boils, like "uva'Garav uve'Chares" (Devarim 28:27). The Targum of Cheres is Chaspanisa. (NOTE: This is unlike our Targum. Targum Yerushalmi is Chaspa. - PF)

Aruch: His face will form a crust, and it will peel off.