NUM10 The spiritually impure must be sent out from the camp of the Shechinah. Spiritual impurity weakens the power of the intelligent soul, confusing it, as men of wisdom know. Spiritual impurity constitutes a barrier between the soul and our powers of perception. In this vein, our Sages expound the verse (Vayikra 11:43) “ונטמתם בם (v’nitnaisem bam)--and you shall become spiritually impure through them.” Our Sages teach (Yoma 39b), “ונטמתם בם (v’nitamtem bam)-- and you shall become clogged up from them.” That is, the wellsprings of human intelligence become stopped up because of spiritual impurity. It is spiritual force that somehow impairs our thinking. Therefore, in the camp of the Shechinah, a pure and holy place where the Spirit of the Lord is present, the presence of someone sullied by spiritual impurity cannot be tolerated. Regarding kings of flesh and blood, as well, the palace guards chase away all lepers and others who are unsavory in their bodies or dress. Hashem in His Torah warns about this matter several times, to emphasize its seriousness, for Hashem wants only our good. Just as people warn each other repeatedly regarding any matter that is particularly dangerous and harmful, so, too, Hashem warns His people.