The Holiness of the Jews

As Jews, we are commanded to be a holy nation. To help maintain our spiritual level, the Torah provides safeguards to protect us from sin. One of these is Tzaraas. In the time of the Bais Ha’Mikdash, (which should speedily be rebuilt), if a person spoke Loshon Harah, he contracted Tzaraas. While the outer manifestation was a type of skin condition, a Metzorah had entered a stage of Tumah, which forced him to be removed from normal life. Anything that he then came into contact with became Tameh, and he had to leave the encampment of the Jews and remain separated from the rest of the nation until he was purified.