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Get of Cleves
A disputed 1766 Jewish divorce document that sparked international rabbinic debate over mental competence.
The Get of Cleves was a controversial Jewish divorce decree issued in 1766 in Cleves, northwest Germany. It sought to dissolve a marriage from just two weeks prior, but its validity was heavily disputed because the husband was alleged to be mentally incompetent at the time.
When is Get of Cleves kept?
Get of Cleves is kept in August 1766.
The Get of Cleves refers to a specific Jewish divorce document issued in 1766 that became the subject of intense legal and religious controversy. The case centered on whether a marriage could be dissolved if one party lacked mental capacity during the proceedings.
Origins of the dispute
The incident began in Cleves, a border town between German and Dutch territories. A man married in Poland traveled to Cleves for a divorce ceremony on 28 August 1766. The divorce settlement favored the wife, which upset his family. They challenged the validity of the get by claiming the husband was not of sound mind when he agreed to the terms.
Rabbinic debates
Rabbis across Europe exchanged opinions on the matter. Some argued the divorce was valid, while others, including a major court in Germany, ruled it invalid due to the husband's alleged incompetence. The situation grew more complex when a Polish rabbi died before his rulings were fully processed, leaving scholars in different countries to take opposing sides.
Resolution and aftermath
The practical issue ended in 1767 when the couple remarried. The husband used a new ring and declared they remained betrothed according to Mosaic law. This event established a precedent for insanity pleas in later centuries. Scholars continue to discuss the case today as it provides a foundation for understanding mental competence in religious courts.
When and where
The divorce occurred on 22 Elul 5526 (28 August 1766). The case concluded with a remarriage ceremony in 1767 after the husband returned to Poland and traveled to Frankfurt.
The initial divorce took place in Cleves, located in northwest Germany near the Dutch border. The couple originated from Poland, and the husband later traveled to London and Frankfurt for legal consultations.
What Get of Cleves means
The ring used in the subsequent remarriage ceremony symbolized the reaffirmation of the marital bond. By declaring the couple still betrothed, the husband rejected the earlier divorce, emphasizing the permanence of the union under religious law.
Who takes part
- the husband: Agreed to the divorce despite alleged mental incompetence, then later remarried his wife using a new ring.
- the wife: Received an asset split favoring her in the initial divorce proceedings.
- the rabbis: Exchanged letters and rulings regarding the validity of the divorce based on the husband's mental state.
Then and now
The case remains relevant in academic and religious discussions. It provides a historical basis for evaluating insanity pleas in modern marriage and divorce cases within Jewish law.
On the wedding table
Symbols: The ring
Questions people ask about Get of Cleves
When is Get of Cleves kept?
Get of Cleves is kept in August 1766.
What is the Get of Cleves?
It is a controversial Jewish divorce document issued in 1766 in Cleves, Germany. The case focused on whether the divorce was valid given the husband's alleged mental incompetence.
Why was the divorce disputed?
The husband's family claimed he was not of sound mind when signing the get. Rabbis debated whether this invalidated the divorce or if the marriage remained binding.
How was the conflict resolved?
The spouses remarried in 1767. The husband used a new ring and stated they were still betrothed, effectively ending the legal dispute through a new ceremony.
See also
Banns of marriageThe public announcement of an impending marriage in church or town hall to allow for legal objections.Polygamy in Saudi ArabiaA legal marriage structure allowing a man to have up to four wives under Islamic law.Posthumous marriage in GermanyA legal rite that joined a living woman to a deceased soldier for state benefits.
Proxy marriageA union where one or both partners are absent and represented by another person.Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Get of Cleves", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryShaadi rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.
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