There are many sins that cause this extended exile, the main one being sins connected to speech. This is so for the following reasons: A. This sin was the cause of the destruction of the holy temple and our exile, and therefore until it is rectified we cannot be redeemed. B. The decree of exile is since the time of the sin of the spies who spoke derogatorily about the land of Israel, and we have to rectify this sin before we can be redeemed. C. It is brought down in numerous sources that this is the cause of our exile. D. It is written “cursed is one who strikes his fellow in secret” and as such God’s blessing cannot rest upon us. us. E. The extent of this sin is so great that it is written about him that he is a heretic, and he is punished in this world as well as in the next.