Can I kasher my Airbnb kitchen and other vacation dilemmas

Prepared for print by Faigy Peritzman

In my bungalow colony, I often get together for game night or schmoozing with other women across the road, and I hire a babysitter to stay with my kids. I know there is an issue of yichud with my nine-year-old son, but I feel like the casual come and go of the bungalow colony may make this acceptable here. Am I correct?

In general, the scenario you describe wouldn’t be considered a yichud situation, since the babysitter is aware that you can come back to the bungalow at any given moment. Even if ultimately you don’t show up for many hours, it still isn’t considered yichud, since you may return at any given minute without warning. In addition, the presence of other children in the bungalow would also, in many cases, eliminate the yichud concern.

Driving in the country always gets me so nervous. I’d like to say Tefillas Haderech every time I leave my colony regardless of how far I’m going. Is this permissible?

Nowadays some poskim allow reciting Tefillas Haderech even when traveling within the same city or within the outskirts of the same city (since car accidents are just as common inside a city as they are outside of it). Some poskim disagree with this ruling, since they maintain that Tefillas Haderech was initially established only for intercity travel. In your case, the best recommendation is for you to recite Tefillas Haderech during Shema Koleinu (before saying the words ki Atah shomeia) during Shacharis or Minchah before you embark on your trip. This will work according to all opinions.

We’re spending a week in an Airbnb and wanted to know if there’s any way to kasher the microwave. What about kashering a grill?

Kashering a microwave from non-kosher to kosher is halachically debatable. While some poskim permit kashering a clean microwave by placing a utensil filled with water inside the microwave and heating it until the entire chamber is filled with thick steam, other poskim question this procedure, and are opposed to kashering a microwave altogether. In practice, if you must use a microwave in the Airbnb, then kasher it as described and then double wrap the food before heating it up.

A grill can technically be kashered through libun chamur, but unless you’re trained and have experience in kashering grills, it’s strongly not recommended. This is especially true for a grill found in an Airbnb, which doesn’t belong to you and can easily get ruined through the kashering process.

We’re staying in a cabin up in Vermont for three weeks.  Do we need to bring along a mezuzah for that time?

You don’t. A renter outside of Eretz Yisrael isn’t obligated in the mitzvah of mezuzah unless he is renting for a time period which is at least 30 days long.

With Shabbos ending so late, I have no appetite for Melaveh Malkah in the summer months. Should I force myself, if I’m totally not enjoying it?

If the Melaveh Malkah is completely unenjoyable, then there is no purpose in having it. Having said that, it’s important to remember that it is strongly recommended that every person take care to fulfill this very special mitzvah, which is associated with many segulos and blessings that last throughout the week. Taking care not to overeat during Seudah Shlishis is a good way to leave some room for Melaveh Malkah. While l’chatchilah one should wash for Melaveh Malkah and eat some cooked food, if this is difficult, one can fulfill this mitzvah by eating mezonos foods, fruits, or other foods. It’s also recommended to have a hot (or warm) drink during this meal.

My husband drives up from the city every Erev Shabbos after work. I get so nervous that he’s leaving so close to Shabbos. Are there any halachic parameters defining when he must leave?

There is no exact halachic rule that governs when one must leave his destination when traveling on Erev Shabbos. There is, however, something called common sense, which means that one must consider all of the possible situations that can arise when traveling on Friday. Accidents, road closures, unexpected traffic jams, etc., are all possibilities that can and do happen, and one is obligated to factor in all of these possibilities when calculating the travel time. While a good rule of thumb is to allow double the time that it normally takes to travel to a particular destination, this isn’t halachically required nor is this totally reliable. Each case needs its own calculation.

I run a day camp and I’m always left with items at the end of the season. I post a list for parents, but rarely does anyone come to pick up their kids’ things. Must I hang on to them if I simply have no idea which kid they belong to?

Notify all parents by email or text before the season begins, and once again after it ends, that any items left more than a week after camp is over will automatically be considered hefker, even if it has a name or other identifying marks on it . This way you have no obligation to hang on to anything that was left behind.

We had a heat wave this past week and wouldn’t you know, I forgot to turn on the AC in my bedroom before Shabbos. May I ask a non-Jew to do this for me?

If it’s extremely hot to the extent that you can’t sleep or function, then it’s permitted to ask a non-Jew to turn on the AC. Preferably, the instruction should be made indirectly (in the form of a hint).

Is it permissible to spray mosquito repellent on Shabbos?

It’s permitted to spray mosquito repellent on your body or clothes or in the air, but not directly at a mosquito if the repellent is toxic enough that it can kill the mosquito.

Is there any issue with buying precut fruit at the local grocery or farmer’s market?

It depends on the type of store you’re shopping in. If it’s a large store, with a specific department for fruits and vegetables, it is permitted to buy cut-up fruit from them, since all the equipment (knives, boards, counters) in such a store is dedicated to that specific department. In a small local grocery or farmer’s market, which in addition to fruit may also be selling meats or cheeses, there is a possibility that the same equipment is used for all of their merchandise. If so, we’re concerned about cross contamination and the fruit shouldn’t be bought.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 907)