DEUT1324 If a man wants to divorce his wife, he must write her a writ of divorce. Hashem created women to help the men. A man can have no greater asset than a good wife. The Torah states that if a man finds that his wife is not a help to him but a hindrance, he may divorce her. After all, her whole purpose is to aid and support him, and if she only drags him down, he is not obligated to keep her as his wife. According to the laws of some nations, men are forbidden to divorce their wives, which is often devastating. Having no fear of divorce, she can destroy her husband completely, as well as his possessions. As to why divorce is accomplished only through a written document given to the woman, and verbal divorce does not suffice, the reason is to prevent promiscuity. A woman might be unfaithful to her husband and then claim that he had already divorced her. To prevent such vile behavior, the Torah requires a written document of divorce that is handed to the woman in the presence of witnesses. If a woman claims that her husband divorced her, she is not believed unless she shows us the גט (get). Another reason why divorce is not verbal is to lessen its frequency. Were it possible to divorce one’s wife simply through speech, men who get angry with their wives would be able to divorce them instantly. In a burst of rashness, having lost control of his emotions, a man in a moment of anger could easily send away a very good wife. The Torah requires a written גט so that while it is being prepared, there will be time for husbands to calm down and think twice before taking such a fateful step. Nothing is more important than maintaining peace. If a man sends his wife away without giving her a writ of divorce, his punishment is great, for she still is his wife. Men will think that she is divorced, and few sins are more serious than having relations with a married woman.