וַיֵּצֵ֥א יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ חָרָֽנָה: "Yaakov left Be'er Sheva and went to Charan ." (Bereishit 28:10) The Gemara in Megilla (17a) teaches that Yosef disappeared from his father for twenty-two years "mida k'neged mida," corresponding to the twenty-two years that Yaakov did not honor his parents while he was in Lavan's house. (The Gemara in Megillah 16b teaches that Yaakov was not punished for the fourteen years he spent learning in Yeshivas Shem V'Ever as Rabba said in the name of Rav Shmuel Bar Marta "The study of Torah is greater than honoring parents" - see also Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 240:13) The Mitzva of Kibbud Av V'Eim is certainly one of great importance. "Honor your father and your mother. You will then live long on the land that G‑d your L-rd is giving you." (Shemos 20:12) The Gemara in Shabbos (127a) teaches "These matters are those that a man eats their fruits in this world and their principal is retained for him in the World to Come. And these are they: Honoring one's father and mother…" But can we truly consider Yaakov’s failure to perform Kibbud Av V'Eim a sin? Yaakov fled from Eisav to save his life and was following his mothers instructions in doing so. In addition, it was Yitzchak who told Yaakov to go to Padan Aram to find a wife. Was his absence not a result of him listening to his parents wishes? In contrast to Yaakov, Chazal are effusive in their praise of Eisav regarding the Mitzvah of Kibbud Av V'Eim. Rav Shimon Ben Gamliel said:
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