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The Chamber of Wood, "Parhedrin"
The Chamber of Wood was the chamber of the High
Priest. In this chamber, a mezuzah was affixed, because the high priest would live here seven days prior to Yom Kippur. This
chamber was originally called the Chamber of Balavatai, meaning "the Chamber of the Ministers." During the period of the Second
Temple, its name was changed to the Chamber of the Parhedrin, derived from the word for "official." This was because the high
priests were changed each year in the manner of royal appointees. This chamber had a wooden door and was therefore called
the Chamber of the Wood. (Sources: Yoma 8 and 11). |