Dear Rabbi, the Bible says that one should not eat animal fat (Leviticus 7:23). I would like to know in which category does butter fall — an animal fat? Do Orthodox Jews use butter, and, if so, what is the basis for allowing butter-fat? Thank you for this service!
Yes, Orthodox Jews may use butter; and no, butter is not an animal fat in the sense of the verse you refer to.
Actually, your question is based on a misunderstanding of the word “chelev”, which is often translated as “forbidden fat”. The Torah forbids eating “chelev.” Chelev refers only to specific fats found in certain places on the animal’s body, such as the fat on the stomach, kidneys and liver. Thus, the vast majority the animal’s fat is permitted. So, even if butter were considered an “animal fat,” it would still be permitted, as are most animal fats. In reality, though, butter is considered milk and not “animal fat”.
For Biblical indication that butter is permitted, Deuteronomy (32:13-14) says: “God nurtured the Jewish People with butter from cows and milk from sheep.” Would God give us food that wasn’t kosher?
