Can you use a flashlight instead of a candle to search for chametz?
You are allowed to use a flashlight rather than a candle to search your house for chametz and still say a bracha on the search on the night of the 14th. However, since the Chazal instituted that we should search with a candle, some claim that we must use a candle.
The best way is to say a bracha for the search over a candle, then use a flashlight to help with the search. You should always be safe. Keep the candle away from anything that might catch fire like bedsheets or curtains and don’t use a candle to search your car.
Do we have to say shehechianu before we search for chametz?
Many poskim hold that we should say shehechianu over the search for chametz. However, some argue that we should not say shehechianu when searching for chametz because we don't say shehechianu over the destruction of something. Therefore, the right thing to do is to buy a new fruit and place it in front of you when you say the bracha of biur chametz. Then, say shehechianu after the search has begun. When you complete your search, you should say a bracha over the fruit and eat it.
If you are selling chametz to a non-Jew before pesach, and you are also planning to be away during Pesach, so you decide sell your entire house to the non-Jew, do you still need to search your house for chametz?
You are exempt from searching your house since you’re selling your house to a non-Jew. Therefore, you’re not violating the prohibition of baal yiraeh and baal yimatzeh since you are not concerned about eating chametz at your house over Pesach. However, there is still a problem with this. The gemara (Menachot 41a) states that if a person has the option to fulfill a mitzvah, and they are actively doing things to prevent themselves from doing the mitzvah, the heavenly court will judge them with anger.
There are two solutions to solve this conundrum. The first solution is to sell your entire house except for one bedroom Since you didn't sell the bedroom, you are still obligated to search that bedroom. If you are searching that bedroom on the night of the 14th, you should say a bracha, If you’re leaving before the 14th, you should search without the bracha. Either way, you should put 10 pieces of chametz in the room to find.
The second solution, which is less advisable, is to still sell your entire house to a non-Jew. When you get to the place where you’re spending Pesach, pay the host a dollar to rent a room. Now, you can search this room. You should still place ten pieces of chametz in the room to find. This is good solution if you’re staying at a hotel and renting the room anyway. If you’re staying with family, the first solution is better.
Do you need to search your hotel room if you’re staying there on Pesach?
If you are arriving at the hotel before the night of the 14th, you should search the hotel room on the night of the 14th with a bracha. If you’re arriving after the 14th, you don’t have to search the room and the obligation is with the owner, if they are Jewish.
If the owner of the hotel is Jewish and they searched the rooms, you do not have to do a search. If you’re arriving before the 14th, and the hotel owner didn’t search the rooms, you should search your room just as you would search your home. That means placing down 10 pieces of chametz and saying a bracha.
If there’s a possibility that you will stay in a hotel on Pesach, but return to your home before the end of Pesach, you should search both your home and the hotel room. You should search your home without a bracha and then the hotel room the night of the 14th with a bracha.
Can you stay at a place if you aren’t sure if that place has been searched for Pesach?
You are not allowed to stay in a place that wasn’t searched for chametz since there is a concern that you might eat the chametz that is found. However, you are allowed to stay there if you are not staying very long. For example, a visit.
You must search your office and work place for chametz before you can stay there. You are allowed to travel on pubic transportation even though it probably wasn’t searched since you don’t own the vehicle, and you’re unlikely to eat chametz that you might find there. However, you must search a rental car because it’s as if you own the vehicle.
Where do we need to search for chametz, besides our own house?
You need to check your pockets and backpacks for chametz. There is no need to check books. However, you do need to search your car even if you had it thoroughly cleaned. You should also check your porch, patio, and courtyards if you had eaten chametz there during the year. The synagogue and study halls must also be checked.
You must check the labels of all foods — even those that are obviously not chametz to make sure they are kosher for Pesach. Even if the ingredients don’t list apparent chametz, you need to look for a reliable symbol from a kosher supervisor to verify the product is kosher for Pesach. (Or, you can use a list from a reliable kosher supervisor to make sure the food listed there does not need to specifically say “Kosher for Pesach” on it, like pure non-decaffeinated black tea or pure non-decaffeinated coffee.)