Taharat HaMetzora

What does the status "tamei" imply?  By closely examining the purification process of the metzora, we notice direct parallels with the atonement process on Yom Kippur, and identify three distinct stages in the purification of a metzora - kappara, tahara, and chinuch. Through a close reading of the text we can understand that tum'a is a state which interferes and prevents the relationship of a man with the sacred, with kedusha, and with God.