Barley Update: 1st Hebrew Month- 19 February 5786/2026 (began Evening Before)- Urgent Update! | Nazarene Israel

19 February 5786/2026, new moon 12th Hebrew month, Rosh HaShanah update, barley update

19 February 5786/2026: This post gives important Rosh HaShanah updates. Please see full post for details on the new moon, barley updates, and on how to determine Rosh HaShanah correctly.

Becky Martinson

08/03/2026

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New Moon 1st Hebrew Month- 19 February 5786/2026 (and evening before)

1a. Rosh HaShanah 19 February 5786/2026 (and evening prior)

There has been a change, which has taken us by surprise.

The new moon was seen from Israel at evening on 18 February. We had received no reports of aviv barley in the land by the day of the new moon by any search groups in the Land, and our erstwhile barley witness Becca Biderman declared a 12th Hebrew month based on her observations. Therefore, we also declared a 12th Hebrew month.

Then on 6 March (two or three days ago) we received verifiable news of barley in one location (maybe two locations) that would have been (or rather, is) ready for the Wave Sheaf Offering by 8 March 2026 (today!). This was too late for us to observe the Pesach or the Omer offering on time–but nonetheless, no matter how mess it is, we need to do the responsible and accurate thing, and officially reversed the declaration.

Based on this new information, as of 8 March 2026, we are officially overturning our prior declaration, and are officially confirming that 19 February (and the evening prior) was Rosh HaShanah–and that we are currently in the first Hebrew month. We realize that this is extremely inconvenient, but we want to align the year accurately, so please continue for explanation and what to do with this current situation for keeping the feasts.

1b. Reversal & explanation:

Had we known that there would be barley when Rosh Chodesh (the New Month) was declared on 18 February, we would have declared a March 4^th Pesach. However, we did not receive this information until two or three days later on March 6th, when Joe Dumond of www.sightedmoon.com wrote us. Although it is very messy, we are very glad for this new information, so we can issue a correct calendar start date.

For details, Joe asked us to use his name (which we are glad to do). On 6 March, Joe reached out to Norman with concerns that we were not using his witness (which we had not done because Becca had made a video claiming that his witness was invalid). Joe implored us to review the data more carefully, and Norman reviewed Joe’s videos with regard to his claims, and found them to have merit. To be clear, we do NOT qualify ALL of Joe’s fields, as there are some qualification issues. However, there were TWO locations that DO seem to be qualified.

For details, some of Joe’s locations are near roads, which we consider artificially altered ground. This causes a sooner ripening effect (but only for the barley near the roads). Since the goal is to find out what weather Yahweh has sent (rather than what microclimates man has created) we disqualify “roadside” barley (and we reject any barley on any man altered surface, and we want barley to be well away from any roads). Joe also used terminology different than we do. However, TWO of Joe’s locations DID seem to qualify according to our understanding of Scripture definitions. These locations are “Checkpoint Charlie” and a field near Mash’en, Israel (north of Gaza).

The barley at Checkpoint Charlie in the Jordan Valley had what appeared to be worm stage and soft dough on 25 February. That means there were 11 days for the barley to reach the medium dough stage, which only takes a few days in good weather (which there has been). That means this barley almost certainly WOULD have been ready for a Wave Sheaf Offering on 8 March! This field was approximately 60′ x 300′, and did not appear to be by any road, or power lines (which can also cause early ripening). You can check the video from 11:33 to 17:20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNNE3vQ1BII

Joe also reported on barley found in Mash’en on March 6th, two days prior to the Wave Sheaf offering. (Joe referred to this barley as ‘hard dough’. By our definitions, this barley would be more like medium dough, as you can still break it in half with your fingers. Nevertheless, medium dough IS acceptable as a Wave Sheaf offering, as it needs no more time to ripen to become viable). You can see the full report here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vg3HCkOOWo While PART of the barley field was on a road embankment, a large amount of barley seemed to be well away from the road, and in an acceptable state.

Becca Biderman commented on the disqualified locations, but to our knowledge, she has not reported either on Checkpoint Charlie, or on Mash’en. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6sHoik2Ns4&t=2094s (We cannot help but wonder, why did she report publicly on the disqualified sites, but say nothing about the qualified ones?) Please pray with us that she will answer this.

Based upon the Mash’en witness, we had an omer’s worth of aviv barley for the Wave Sheaf Offering on 8 March 2026. We have written to Joe, asking a reinspection of the Checkpoint Charlie location (for a second witness, although it is not really necessary in this case, since we have Mash’en.) We have some issues with the terminology used, but basically Joe’s teams’ witness seems sound. Further, the barley in the Mash’en and the Checkpoint Charlie locations will be shattered by next month. So, next month will be too late.

Norman hopes to do a full video review soon. Further, Nazarene Israel hopes to publish a Barley Inspector’s Field Guide for next year, so barley witness teams can know what criterion Nazarene Israel uses, and how to report. But we can verify the Mash’en location based on the video alone (with or without a Checkpoint Charlie reinspection).

1c. What do we do for the Feasts?

Okay, you are probably asking, “What do we do now that Pesach, the Day of the Wave Sheaf, and most of the week of unleavened bread is already past?” While the situation is less than ideal, we are in the Dispersion, and we are permitted to keep the Second Pesach if we are away traveling, and do not receive news in time to keep the feasts (Vayiqra / Numbers 6:9-13).

We should never intentionally miss the first Pesach, but the Second Pesach is for these type of situations. However, King Hezekiah asked Yahweh for mercy in this kind of situation, and Yahweh honored his request (Divre HaYamin Bet / 2 Chronicles 30).

We are currently disposing of any leaven in our homes, and we plan to keep the last 2 days of the Week of Unleavened Bread. We recommend that you do the same if possible. We will then ALSO keep the Second Pesach with the Week of Unleavened Bread in the SECOND month (next month). Please note however that the Pentecost does not change! The count to Pentecost began TODAY, 8 March 2026.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 9:10-12
10  “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the Yahweh’s Passover.
11  On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
12  They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.

1d. Praying for a responsible barley witness:

This is a sudden reversal, but Norman is in communication with Joe Dumond. We are praying that we can work with Joe and come to agreement on the qualifications for barley and on the timing for reports. Please pray with us. Even if Joe continues to use his standards for his group, please pray with us that he will also inspect using our standards, so that he can serve as a valid barley witness for Nazarene Israel moving forward.

Joe believes it is acceptable to declare on the 10th, but you can see by this post what confusion this causes for those of us who are not already in the land of Israel. While those in the Land may be able to recognize the time of aviv and respond in time easily each year, those outside the land need these reports by the first of the month, so that everyone receives news in time to ask for time off from work, etc., so they can keep Yahweh’s feasts in their time, and that those who wish to travel up to the land for the Pesach have time to receive the message, and respond. Please pray with us that both Joe and Becca will receive this, so that these types of “sudden reversals” do not happen any more.

We are thrilled that Joe contacted us with this news! Please pray with us that we will be able to have a good relationship with Joe and Sighted Moon moving forward, so that we may have a qualified, dependable barley witness checking all locations faithfully. Please pray also that Becca Biderman will stop treating us so badly, when we have done nothing but help her and support her and encourage her for many years. We would like to have a good relationship with her again, if she will stop blocking us. Thank you all for your prayers.

1e. Correctly defining ‘aviv’

Our understanding is that the new year must begin when there is enough (one omer’s worth) of ‘aviv’ barley that will be ready to present as the ‘Firstfruits’ Wave Sheaf Offering by 15th to the 21st day of the first month.

Strong’s Concordance defines ‘aviv’ as ‘green’, ‘tender’, ‘young’ and ‘viable for seed’. It must also be the firstfruits, meaning not the middle of the harvest. (See study links below for more information.) This ‘Firstfruits’ Wave Sheaf Offering (in Temple times) is presented unto Elohim on behalf of the entire nation, and harvest can then begin afterwards. (Harvest cannot begin before Yom HaNafat HaOmer without violating Deuteronomy 16:9.)

Several Messianic and Karaite calendar groups declare the new year using barley that is brown, dry, brittle, and from the middle of the harvest (rather than the firstfruits as Scripture commands). They will call it aviv barley even though it does not fit the definition. And they will allow the firstfruits to fall to the ground. (They will even boast that the firstfruits have shattered and been lost!)

These groups also violate Deuteronomy 16:9 by allowing people to harvest prior to Yom HaNafat HaOmer. Other groups add requirements for declaring the new year that are not found in Scripture. Due to these errors, these groups usually declare the start of the Hebrew Year (Rosh HaShanah) late.

Feast schedule 5786-7 / 2026 (To be posted upon confirmation)

Please follow the schedule below for the feasts of the first month/second Pesach:

Printable PDF version
1st month count details

Current situation:	(Dates could be one day later)
Rosh HaShanah (post)	19 February (and the evening before
Yom HaNafat HaOmer (Wave Sheaf):	8 March (and the evening before)
Chag Hamatzot Sheva (ULB7):	11 March (and the evening before)
Shavuot (Pentecost)	26 April (and the evening before)

Second Month Pesach	(Dates could be one day later)
New Moon (expected):	20 March (visibility 3.47%)
Pesach (Passover):	3 April (afternoon)
Chag HaMatzot Aleph (ULB1)	4 April (and the evening before)
Chag Hamatzot Sheva (ULB7)	10 April (and the evening before)

We encourage you to check out our calendar studies, which explain the correct definitions of aviv barley, how to observe the calendar correctly, and errors found in other calendars. A full list of studies can be found in ‘Calendar studies’ below for convenience. We also encourage you to track our calendar updates on our Torah Calendar News page.

Video Studies:	Where is Spring Commanded?
Aviv Barley Simplified	Where is the Equinox Commanded?
Did Ancient Israelites QUALIFY Their Barley Fields?	Book Studies:
The Error of Harvestable Fields	Establishing the Head of the Year
Feasts of the First Month	The Feasts and the Ancient Hebrew Wedding
Feasts of the Seventh Month	Feasts of the First Month
First Fruits or False Fruits?	Feasts of the Seventh Month
Josephus, the Talmud, and the Omer	Nazarene Israel Passover Study
Let’s Not Break Deuteronomy 16:9	The Torah Calendar

Witnesses qualification

Current witness qualification:
Currently being reconsidered.
Other barley groups:There are several other (Amalekite) barley groups whose work we cannot recommend in any way. They ignore Deuteronomy 16:9, they define “Firstfruits” as a random sheaf from the middle of the harvest, and they add rules and definitions that Yahweh does not add. They are often a month (or sometimes two months) late.New moon witnesses:
Several groups sight the first crescent sliver of the new moon well. NI uses various new moon witnesses for new moon reports. Again, as far as we can tell, only sister Becca Biderman publishes accurate barley reports.

For more on the current barley inspections, please visit NI Torah Calendar News.

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