TRAVEL HALACHA
HOW TO KASHER A MICROWAVE
- Clean inside of microwave with soap & water
- If the microwave comes with a glass dish clean it with soap & water
- Fill a glass cup full of water
- Microwave the cup for the longest time you intend to microwave your food
- Take out the cup with a hot pad or towel because it will be very hot
- Microwave is now ready for kosher use
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HOW TO USE AN OVEN WITHOUT KASHERING IT
- If you have time to put the oven at its highest heat for awhile before Shabbas/Yom Tov,
while unnecessary, it is still better to do that - Then triple wrap each food item completely with aluminum foil before heating in the oven
- If you can't remove the oven light, then remove the food before you light candles
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ON SHABBAS & YOM TOV
When you travel alone or with your family
you need to know how to deal with the following challenges
ELECTRONIC DOORS
- The majority of hotels have electronic front doors as well as additional electronic doors
to the pool & other exits
- Most hotels have a side door or back door that opens manually
- Inquire before Shabbas/Yom Tov so that you can be directed to such a door
- Find out if an alarm will go on if you exit outside from a staircase door
ELEVATORS
They are a wide variety of halachic opinion on usage of elevators
- Some Rabbis maintain that you can NOT use an elevator at all on Shabbas & Yom Tov
- Other Rabbis allow travel in an elevator on Shabbas & Yom Tov
together with non-Jews who push the elevator button to the floor of their destination or
If the elevator has been pre-programmed to stop on specific floors
- See additional information below under KEY CARDS
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ESCALATORS
May be used
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KEY CARDS
- You can NOT use a Key Card on Shabbas or Yom Tov to open a door to your room or to another hotel facility.
- You can NOT directly ask a non-Jew to open your door
- You may inform the front desk before Shabbas or Yom Tov that you will need help getting
in to your room - Many hotels are aware & knowledgeable about this challenge & often they will have a staff person accompany you on the elevator who will then open your room door with a security
card key
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AUTOMATIC BATHROOM EQUIPMENT
Most hotels have automated bathroom equipment
in the Hotel Lobby or other 1st floor locations
which may include
- Urinals
- Toilets
- Sink Water
- Soft Soap Dispensers
You may NOT use them
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AIR CONDITIONING
- Many hotels & especially those in warm climates now have the air conditioning turn off
when you open the door to your patio or terrace - Ask at the front desk when you check-in
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CLOSET LIGHTS
- Most hotel have the closet lights go on when you open the doors
- Ask at the front desk when you check-in
- These lights can be removed during your stay
BATHROOM LIGHTS
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- Some hotels have installed motion sensors in the bathrooms
- These sensors make the lights go on when you enter the bathroom
& stay on for a short while after the bathroom is empty - Supposedly the sensors can be disarmed by the hotel engineering staff
but often even though it is possible, the do not succeed - Placing a nightlight in the bathroom will not ensure that the light stays on
- If you have a Shabbas lamp with you or take the lamp provided off the desk or dresser
& place it in the bathroom you will ensure that you have a bathroom light on all
Shabbas/Yom Tov
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CARRYING OUTSIDE THE HOTEL
- Unless you are in a city with an Eruv & have checked the Erev hot line,
you can't walk out the front door carrying anything - If there are other doors that lead to hotel grounds, pool, courtyard, you can't walk out
those doors carrying anything unless the hotel property itself has an eruv
or suitable boundaries with closed gates
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Consult your Rabbi for further guidance
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Other KosherTravel pages
Airplane Exercises | Easy Travel Food | Jet Lag | Motion Sickness | Travel Prayer
Truth In Year Round Travel | Truth In Passover Travel
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