Heard a shiur from Rav Simon Shlita from last year when he related that he was asked a sfira shyla from someone who was on a Pesach program in China [missing a night because of the flight and crossing the international dateline, I think].
Got me thinking.
1] People who spend Pesach in China but being so frum that they are concerned about missing one bracha. I think that there is a slight disconnect between people's vacation choices and their ritual observance.
In general, a large percentage of Jews have this. We see certain areas as religious and are very punctilious about them - such as keeping Kosher or Shabbos. But other "neutral" areas we disconnect from Hashem. So people who would never dream of eating on a minor fast day or moving a pen on Shabbos will also steal in business and waste loads of their free time on nonsense [bittul zman is a religious infraction...].
Where to vacation is a religious question. So is where to live. So is what sites to go to on the internet. So is whether we watch TV and movies and what we watch if we do.
So maybe China IS a place where Hashem wants us to be for Pesach. Maybe. He hasn't communicated this information to me. But it would seem that the type of person who goes there is generally not a person who is striving for spiritual perfection in his world and sees his/her task here as fulfilling the will of Hashem. Hence, maybe a person should choose a place with better company.
Like .... ERETZ YISRAEL!!!!
AHHHHHHH - That sounds like a more spiritual choice. But maybe no. Maybe we need to spread Dvar Hashem even to the furthest reaches of the planet ala Chabad and SHOULD go to China. Who knows. It is therefore worthwhile having a Rav with whom to discuss this question [not forgetting to factor in how such a trip impacts children]. Vacation - yes. Where? Ask a shyla. Don't only ask "I am going to Italy for Rosh Hashana and I have a problem with opening the door of the hotel room on Shabbos. What should I do?" Ask "Should I be in Italy for Rosh Hashana?" And the posek shouldn't be the guy who runs the program - even if he happens to have semicha.
2] Something tells me that NEXT YEAR China will not be a choice location for a Pesach program.
3] I hope that when this disaster ends people have enough money to go on vacation if they wish.... As it stands now there are an AWFUL LOT of Jews [not to mention non-Jews] who have no money for food and are eating meals sponsored by chesed organizations. יצילנו השם!!!!
4] A HUGE Afikomen present for anyone who can ask the 4 kashyes in Chinese.
