Once upon a time a man called R. Joshua dreamt that his companion in paradise was to be a certain Nanos, the son of Ish Kefar. When he woke up in the morning, he remembered his dream and journeyed from place to place in search of Nanos. When R. Joshua arrived at the place where Nanos lived, the elders of the town came out to meet him and paid him their respects and invited him and his pupils to eat and drink with them.

R. Joshua replied: "I will neither eat nor drink before I have seen a certain Nanos, son of Ish Kefar, who is to be my companion in paradise. I wish to ascertain what virtuous deeds have made him worthy to become my companion in paradise. Then I will come and eat and drink with you."

The elders said: "What concern have you with Nanos? He is not worthy even to stand beside you."

R. Joshua replied: "Nevertheless, I am anxious to see him even though you hold him in such contempt."

Then the people ran quickly to Nanos and told him to go to R. Joshua who desired to speak to him. Nanos laughed, for he did not believe them, and refused to go.

Then the people returned and said to R. Joshua: "Nanos refuses to come; he thinks we are making fun of him."

Then R. Joshua rose up with all his pupils and all the worthies of the town and went to the house of Nanos.

When Nanos saw R. Joshua, he was very much frightened and went out to meet him, and falling at his feet, said to him: "What is the meaning of this, that a great and worthy sage who is likened to a king, should come and visit me in my house, seeing that I am a man of very low station?"

Then R. Joshua said to him: "Friend, tell me what are your deeds in this world, for I came here to ask you this question."

Nanos replied: "Dear Rabbi, I am, alas, a very poor man; I have nothing but a garden in which I work every day. I have an old father and an old mother, who are so old that they cannot move, and I take care of them, feed them and clothe them and carry them about when necessary. I support them from the proceeds of the garden."

Then R. Joshua said: "Happy am I that I shall have a companion like you in paradise, for there is no deed more worthy than to honor father and mother, for which God grants long life, as we read in the Holy Scriptures: 'Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land'" (Ex. 20.11).