Animal Fat Hand Soap

Q. I bought hand soap that is made with tallow (animal fat). Is there any problem with using this soap?

A. Although it is permissible to derive benefit from non-kosher animal fats, the Vilna Gaon (Beiur HaGra (OC 326) prohibited rubbing tallow on one’s body for the following reason: The Gemara in Shabbos (86a) states that just as drinking is forbidden on Yom Kippur, anointing is also unacceptable, because sicha k’shtiya (anointing oneself has the same halachic status as drinking). The Vilna Gaon (Beiur HaGra OC 326) maintains that the principle of “sicha k’shtiya” is not limited to Yom Kippur and applies all year as well. Just as it is forbidden to consume non-kosher oil, rubbing non-kosher oil on one’s body is also prohibited. In contrast, Rabbeinu Tam ruled that the concept of “sicha k’shtiya” is limited to Yom Kippur, and there is no year-round restriction to rub non-kosher oil on one’s body. The Mishnah Berurah (Beiur Halacha 326, s.v. b’she’ar) writes that the prevailing custom is to follow the lenient position of Rabbeinu Tam, but there are some individuals who adhere to the stringent opinion of the Vilna Gaon and do not use soap made from animal fat. Rabbi Soloveitchik reported that the Bais HaLevi was careful in this matter. However, the Aruch Hashulchan (YD 117:29) writes that nowadays, even the Vilna Gaon would agree that washing one’s body with non-kosher soap is permissible. That is because current manufacturing procedures render the fats in soap completely inedible. Since the non-kosher ingredients in soap are no longer forbidden, washing with non-kosher soap is also acceptable. (To be continued)

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.