Shem was rewarded with the Tallis and Tzitzis. The Midrash says that Techeles is similar to the sea, the heavens and to the Kisei Hakavod, heavenly throne. Techeles tells the Jew that he is not all-knowing, that he is dependent on Hashem. The sea and the sky remind us that beyond that which we can perceive lies an unfathomable and impenetrable depth.
Ultimately, no matter how much man may believe he has accomplished and attained, it is still insignificant relative to Hashem. Fear of father [Mora Av] is equated with fear of heaven [Mora Shamayim] because the Jew must understand that just as he is dependent on Hashem, he must also recognize that he also owes everything to his father as well.
Yefes was rewarded with the toga. Yefes was the father of Greece and Greek culture, which valued action based on the expediency, and had high regard for superficial beauty. Ancient Greece was willing to accept abominable actions in the name of culture. [The Rav compared this to current acceptance of the full gamut of illicit sexual activity and the scorn that modern youth have for the older generation].
Yefes was rewarded with the external trappings, Klappei Chutz. Shem was rewarded with the inner beauty as symbolized by the Tallis and Techeles.
Another dimension to the difference between Shem and Yefes is that while both had Kavod, respect, for their father, only Shem displayed Yirah, fear, for his father. Kavod entails simple respect that one shows externally towards his father. This respect may come about only because the son would be ashamed of the societal scorn he would receive if he did not care for his father. Yirah, on the other hand, means listening to the advice of his father, looking up to him, overlooking his mistakes and holding him in the highest regard. As the Torah tells us, “She’al Avicha V’yagedcha, Z’keinecha V’yomru Lach,” seek counsel from your father and your elders.
Shem displayed Yirah for his father. He was able to overlook the acts of his father by viewing them in the context of what he went through and the enormous responsibility he had in preserving the world. He could not stand to see his father degraded. Yefes showed only Kavod for his father. He was afraid that others might accuse him of being a lesser son than Shem. So, when Shem showed the initiative to act, Yefes was quick to participate in this good deed. Cham, on the other hand, showed scorn and disdain for his father and was always pointing out his father’s shortcomings and those of the previous generations.