24 Mar PESACH TRAVEL GUIDE FROM MY UPCOMING SEFER: THE TRAVELER’S GUIDE

When staying in
hotels, there are
many halachic
concerns that must be
addressed beyond the
laws of Pesach. These
include, for example,
issues of Shabbat such as automated lights,
electronic sensors, and the use of magnetic
key cards. One should be mindful of these
matters and seek proper guidance where
necessary.
However, the focus here will be limited to the
halachot relevant to Pesach.
When Attending a Pesach Retreat
When choosing a Pesach program, one must
recognize that the level of kashrut is of
primary importance. Pesach involves
numerous complex halachot, far beyond the
standards of the rest of the year, and therefore
it is essential to ensure that the program
operates under a high and reliable standard of
kashrut.
First and foremost, one should investigate
who the mashgiach is. It is not sufficient that
there is “some supervision”; rather, one must
ascertain that the mashgiach is knowledgeable,
experienced in the halachot of Pesach, and, no
less importantly, a yerei shamayim whose
integrity can be trusted. The hashgacha itself

should be one that aligns with one’s personal
standards, particularly the level of stringency
in ingredients and food preparation, such as
bug checking. It is advisable to inquire in
advance about how the kitchen is kashered,
what products are used, and how supervision
is maintained throughout the program.
Beyond kashrut, the general atmosphere of
the program requires consideration. Pesach is
a time of kedushah, and the environment
should reflect that. One should make
reasonable efforts to ensure that the crowd is
respectful, that standards of tzniut are upheld,
and that the overall tone is appropriate for
Yom Tov. This can often be assessed by
researching who typically attends the
program, the type of clientele it attracts, and
by speaking with the rabbi.
In sum, careful attention to both the halachic
standards and the spiritual environment of a
Pesach program helps ensure that the
experience is not only convenient, but also
aligned with the values and sanctity of the
festival.
Selling One’s Home to Be Exempt from
Cleaning
One who leaves his home for the entire Pesach
and will not return may include both the
chametz and the premises in a proper sale,
thereby removing them from his halachic

ownership. In such a case, he is not required
to clean or perform bedikat chametz in those
areas.
He does not sell it on his own. The standard
practice is to appoint a rav as a shaliach
(agent) to carry out a formal mechirat chametz
on his behalf.
If one forgot to sell his chametz at home
through his rav, he can do so by calling the rav
or using a reliable website that facilitates the
sale. When using an online service, ensure
that it is trustworthy. This sale must be
performed in the morning before the time
chametz becomes forbidden, and before the
rav has actually completed the sale with the
non-Jew. If neither option is possible, they
should find a non-Jew to sell the chametz on
their behalf.
How it works:
• One fills out an authorization form (in
person or online) appointing the rav.
• He specifies that he is selling the entire
house and all chametz and the areas
where it is located (rooms, cabinets,
etc.).
• The rav will then perform a legally
binding sale to a non-Jew before Pesach,
using a proper kinyan according to
halachah and civil law.
• After Pesach, the rav arranges to buy it
back.
• The sale should be serious and complete,
not just symbolic.
Checking a Hotel Room for Chametz
However, his obligation is not eliminated,
but transferred: he must perform bedikat
chametz in the place where he will be
staying. For example, if he is lodging in a
hotel, he should check his room with a
berachah, ensuring it is free of chametz.
When one enters his hotel room, it is
advisable to leave his luggage outside
initially, so that he can perform the bedikah
without unnecessary items obstructing
access. In this way, the checking can be done
quickly, efficiently, and with proper
attention.
He should inspect the common areas where
chametz may have been left by previous
occupants, such as under and behind the bed,
around and beneath the desk, inside drawers,
and along shelves. It is also proper to check
seating areas, including a sofa or armchairs
if present, paying attention to crevices where
food may fall. Additionally, one should
briefly look through the closet area and any
accessible corners of the room.
Bedikah is normally performed using a
candle; however, if the hotel does not allow
candles in the room, or if the room has a
carpet and one wishes to avoid the risk of
fire or damage, a flashlight may be used
instead, such as the light on a phone.
Cleaning and checking the room is required
in the same manner, even if one arrives at the
hotel room during Chol Hamoed.
Checking the Car
One can also fulfill the mitzvah of bedikat
chametz in his car. If one rents a vehicle for

Pesach, or even if it is rented only for Chol
Hamoed, he is obligated to check that no
chametz is present.
In contrast, a passenger on a public bus, train,
or taxi does not need to check, since the
obligation to inspect applies only to the
owner. Similarly, a person boarding an
airplane does not need to check his seat.
Snacks and Beverages in the Room
In a room where non-Passover alcoholic
drinks and snacks have been left, these items
should be removed. If not possible, they
should be placed in a separate drawer and
clearly labeled as belonging to a non-Jew.
Some hotels provide snacks and drinks for
sale in the rooms and charge guests only for
what they consume. On Passover, such items
should not be left in the room, since they are
not kosher for Passover.
Most hotel rooms have coffee makers with
coffee cups or coffee packets. Although some
plain coffee may be used without special
Pesach supervision, one should not use the
coffee maker without kashering it first.
Simple coffee makers may be kashered by
thoroughly cleaning the internal components
and then running them with hot water.
Koshering the kitchen
Those who have a kitchen in their room, or
kitchen utensils, may kasher them. Since the
laws of kashering are complex, they should
consult a rav regarding each item. If one
arrives at an apartment or hotel during Chol
HaMoed Pesach, according to Sephardic
practice it is permitted to kasher utensils by
hag’alah (immersion in boiling water), while
Ashkenazim are stringent. Kashering by libun
(direct heating) is permitted even for
Ashkenazim.
Regardless, certain areas in the room should
be cleaned and covered (if not kashered),
since people commonly place food on them.
Foremost is the table, as food is often placed
directly on it; therefore, it should be cleaned
well and covered with a tablecloth or a
disposable plastic cover. The same applies to
any counter, if present.
Eating with Others
If one is joining a Pesach program with many
families and maintains certain stringencies
that the program does not accommodate—for
example, eating only a specific type of matzah
or avoiding wetting the matzah—he may still
eat other permissible food items and sit at the
same table with those who do not observe the
same stringencies. At Birkat Hamazon, he
may participate in a zimun, even though he
would not consume some of the food items
prepared for others.