There was a certain R. Tarfon, whose mother was so old that she could not walk. So he carried her wherever she wanted to go, gave her at all times the best food and drink and took great pains to do everything possible for her with all his heart and soul.

One day the sages came to visit the mother of R. Tarfon and asked her how she fared, whether her son was treating her well and whether she was in need of anything.

She expressed her gratitude to her son and could not find enough words to praise him, and told them of the trouble and toil she was causing him.

And the sages replied: "If he did a thousand times as much as he was doing, it would not be enough, for there is no limit to the honor due to father and mother, and one can never do too much."

Once the mother of R. Ishmael complained of her son and said: "He does not show me the respect which is my due."

When the sages heard this, they hesitated to mention it to him, for he was a great and worthy scholar, and they could not understand how he could be wanting in respect to his mother. Then they asked the old mother what it was she was complaining of.

And the mother said: "Dear friends, when he comes home from the college with the students, I want to wash his feet, but he will not allow it, and therein he fails to do my pleasure and does not show me the honor that is due."

Then the sages said to R. Ishmael: "If it is the express wish of your mother and she looks upon it as an act of respect, you ought to allow her to wash your feet, for it does you honor at the same time."