Ask The Rabbi
23 March 1996
Issue #101
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This Issue Contains:
1.  Parents with Bread
2.  Heavenly Journey
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Elon (not real name) <@telecomm.tadiran.co.il> from Jerusalem wrote:

>I am living with my parents now and they do not keep mitzvot nor Shabbat
>nor the holidays.  They are respectful but they just don't know and can't
>be bothered to learn.
>
>Pesach is coming up.  I am trying to arrange with them to go out to a
>kosher Hotel for the first two nights (including the Seder - hope that
>works out) but as far as cleaning for Pesach I don't know what to do.  My
>parents may/may not want to clean up, and even if we try to, I'm convinced
>they will bring chametz [leaven] in at some point (knowingly or not).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Elon,

The Torah prohibits owning chametz on Pesach.  This is derived from the
verse "Nothing leavened should be seen in your possession."

This prohibition applies only to chametz which you own.  It does not apply
to someone else's chametz -- even if it's in your house.

Assuming that your parents own (or rent) the house and assuming that all
the chametz in the house belongs to them, then it is their responsibility
to get rid of the chametz, not yours.

Of course, chametz which you personally own you have to get rid of before
Pesach.  Also, any of your personal belongings in which you might put
chametz require a pre-Pesach search.  For example, pockets and knapsacks
should be checked for forgotten candy bars or half-eaten sandwiches.

But since you are a `guest' in your parents home -- i.e., you have no
ownership or legal rights over your room -- you wouldn't say the blessing
when searching for chametz.

I spoke to Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, shlita, and he said that a child
may stay at his parents home for Pesach even if they haven't removed their
chametz.

The best scenario would be if you could agree with your parents to keep the
house chametz-free.  That way, your parents will be doing a mitzvah, and
also, neither you nor your parents will accidentally eat any chametz.  But
this must all be done in a way that causes no friction between you and your
parents and conveys no disrespect to them whatsoever.

You mentioned `the first two nights' of Yom Tov.  Since you live in Israel,
you should consult a halachic authority concerning how many days of Yom Tov
to observe.

Wishing you a Chag Kasher V'Somayach!

Sources:
o  Exodus 13:17, Tractate Pesachim 5b
o  Chayei Adam 119:18, Chok Yaakov Orach Chaim 436
o  After the Return, Rabbi Mordechai Becher and Rabbi Moshe Newman, p. 80

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<NerNCSY@aol.com> wrote:

>There is a version of the Tefillat Haderech [traveler's prayer] for
>regular travel and a version for flying in an airplane.  When you fly are
>you supposed to say both?

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear <NerNCSY@aol.com> wrote

Someone who sets out on a journey says Tefillat Haderech -- the traveler's
prayer.  Tefillat Haderech is a prayer asking Hashem to protect us from
`accidents, wild animals, bandits, and all types of calamities that befall
the world.'

When the Sages composed this prayer, different methods of travel existed --
e.g., travel by foot, coach or ship.  Each type of travel had it's own
particular perils.  Nevertheless, the Sages did not differentiate,
composing only one version of the prayer for all the different types of
travel.

The original version of Tefillat Haderech is as relevant to air travel as
it is to travel by ship at sea, and therefore there's no need for an
airplane version.  So although there is a widespread custom to add a
supplemental prayer for air travel, there's no need to do so.

Concerning cars:  Someone once asked his rabbi why, in our day, we pray for
protection from `wild beasts' when traveling by car?  From which `wild
beasts' do we need protection?  "The other drivers," the rabbi answered.

And speaking of air travel:  An `entrepreneur' chartered a passenger plane
to a far away island. "Big Iron Bird will fly you to beautiful land," he
told the inhabitants, who climbed excitedly aboard the 'Big Iron Bird.'

When the plane began experiencing turbulence, he told the frightened
passengers, "Iron Bird is hungry!  Iron Bird needs gold to eat!  Or else
Iron Bird will fall down!"  He walked up and down the aisle with a sack
into which everyone emptied all their gold.  Soon the sack was brimming
with coins, rings and ornaments.

One of the passengers sighed as he placed into the sack a jewel-studded
necklace worth $300.

"Jarunx!" said the person next to him, "Such a great loss!"

"Yeah," said the man.  "And just think, British Airways has the same flight
for $269 plus mileage perks!"

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