Dear Rabbi Bartfeld re our conversation on writing a brief guide for the most common questions that people have when traveling to a hotel for Pesach; the following are some of the most common concerns.
When and how to do the searching of the chometz, both at home and/or in the hotel? There are many gray areas were people are unclear. Do they have to search at home before they leave if they are not going to be there during Yom Tov? Does it matter when they leave? What if you forgot and it is already Erev Yom Tov?
A. The one traveling within thirty days before Pesach must search his home the night prior to his leaving, even if he does not plan to return at all during Pesach. (Shulchan Aruch O.H. 436: 1) If he is planning to leave home before nightfall on the day prior to the eve of Pesach (e.g. first day Pesach is Shabbat and he is traveling to the hotel on Thursday day) he should do the search of chametz at his home the night prior to his departure (Wednesday night) The search is similar to the one normally done on the eve of Pesach, but one does not recite a bracha (Rema ibid. although Biur Halacha remains in doubt most Poskim agree that no bracha is recited))
If he finds it difficult to search on the night prior to his departure, as he is busy preparing for the trip, he may search on the night before (Tuesday). (Kaf Hachaim 6)
If someone forgot to search for the chametz and is already in the hotel, he should call a friend or a neighbor and name him his agent to do the search in his place. Alternatively, he may early in the morning contact a Rabbi to include his home in the sale that morning.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
