Bible Encyclopedias
Mi'un

Form of Mi'un.
The usual procedure in regard to mi'un was that the minor said, in the presence of two witnesses, "I do not wish to live with my husband . . . ," or used some other phrase denoting the same idea, and thereby became released (Yeb. 108a). Originally it was the custom to make out a so-called "geṭ mi'un," in which the minor declared, "I do not like him he does not please me I do not wish to remain with him as his wife." This was subsequently abolished, and the following practise was introduced: The two men before whom such a declaration was made prepared a document, which, however, was not necessary for the minor's remarriage, since she became free as soon as she had made the declaration (Yeb. 107b, 108a). This document, as given by Maimonides ("Yad," l.c. 11:11, and with a few unimportant variations in "Or Zarua'," 1:687), reads as follows:

"On . . . [day of the week], the . . . day of the month . . ., in the year . . . according to the . . . era, . . . , daughter of . . . , protested before us and said, 'My mother [or my brothers] deceived me and gave me in marriage [or betrothed me] to . . . , son of . . . , and now I declare before you that I do not desire him, and that I will not stay with him.' We have examined this . . . and are satisfied that the girl is yet a minor, and have written and signed and given [this] to her as a document and a clear proof. ...................., witness. ...................., witness."

If the marriage was contracted for the girl before she had reached the age of six, or after that age without her consent, the formality of mi'un was not necessary. If the marriage took place with her consent when she was between the ages of six and ten, mi'un was necessary if she showed signs of intelligence and of appreciation of the symbols of marriage. After ten, mi'un was necessary even if the girl manifested no signs of intelligence (Yeb. 107b Giṭ. 65a "Yad," l.c. 11:7 Eben ha-'Ezer, 155, 2). Since mi'un was regarded as an annulment of marriage, and not merely as a separation, like divorce, the girl might afterward marry any of the relatives of her presumptive husband, and he any of her relatives. She might marry a kohen, or might remarry her previous husband, even though she had been married to another after mi'un (Yeb. 108a "Yad," l.c. 11:16, 17 Eben ha-'Ezer, 155, 10 see Divorce ).

Antiquity of Custom.
The institution of mi'un seems to have been of very early origin. The Rabbis speak of it as a wellestablished custom, although some of them look upon it with disfavor. Bet Shammai restricted mi'un to betrothed minors, and prohibited it after marriage had already taken place (Yeb. 107a). Bar Ḳappara includes mi'un among the things which one should avoid (ib. 109a) and one is therefore advised against associating oneself with witnesses for the purposes of mi'un ("Yad," l.c. 10:16). In the Middle Ages some of the rabbis vigorously objected to the marriage of minors, giving as one of their reasons the desire to make mi'un impossible (Tos., Yeb. 109a, s.v. " Wayitraḥeḳ" "Haggahot Maimuni" to "Yad," l.c. 11:1 "Or Zarua'," 1:686 Eben ha-'Ezer, 155, 1, Isserles' gloss).

In the fifteenth century R. Menahem of Merseburg wished to abolish the institution of mi'un altogether and while he did not secure for his decree unanimous adoption, the sentiment against the marriage of young children, which became stronger in later times, and the diffidence with which the Rabbis approached a case of mi'un on account of the conflicting opinions, caused this institution to become almost obsolete (see Judah Minz, Responsa, No. 13, Fü Ruth 1766 Eben ha-'Ezer, 155, 22, Isserles' gloss and "Pitḥe Teshubah," ad loc. see also Majority ).