Barley Witness Qualifications:

There are several barley witness groups and individual inspectors. We recognize that each group does some good things, and we appreciate each group for their efforts. That said, we have several concerns with definitions, qualification requirements, and timing in each group. Please pray with us that Yahweh will help us to resolve these concerns. 

Ancient Path New Moon

For several years, we qualified Becca as a barley inspector. Becca is extremely knowledgeable, and she does a lot of good things. She has exemplary technique when inspecting, and we encourage all other barley groups to emulate her technique.

However, we have noticed her definitions and her inspection requirements changing. In 2025 and again in 2026, Becca stated publicly that she is not attempting to do things as done in the days of Yeshua or before–and if people follow her reports expecting her to do things as they were done in ancient times, that they are following the wrong person. Respectfully, we find this statement shocking and contradictory to Becca’s ministry title (“In Search of His Ancient Path”), and this seems to constitute a radical change from her earlier approach (in 2021).

Perhaps due to her adoption of the “Seven Species Calendar” (which concept is Talmudic), Becca also practices retroactively declaring Rosh HaShanah (the New Year) up to the 10th day of the month. This causes chaos, and many would not have enough time to make it up to Jerusalem in time for the feasts, causing them to violate Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:16 and Shemote (Exodus) 34:22:23.

Becca also expresses that (paraphrase) “Her Father commands her (to do certain things)” that we cannot find any support for in Scripture. Further, her teachings seem to be drifting quietly and subtly more toward the Talmudic understanding. We have attempted to communicate our concerns with Becca for several years, but Becca blocked us suddenly and completely last year, and insisted that we not contact her (in violation of Matthew 18), leaving all these issues unaddressed.

Again, we recognize many good things that Becca does in her inspections. For that reason, we may review her reports for relevant data, depending on the situation. However, due to the concerns and lack of brotherly communication, we are no longer able to qualify Becca’s barley reports.

Sighted Moon

Due to Becca Biderman drifting slowly toward Talmudic doctrine over the past 3-4 years, we had to disqualify her as a barley witness. We had thought instead to switch to Joseph Dumond of Sighted Moon. Joe Dumond has the right basic idea of declaring the first true sheaf of aviv barley to Yahweh, to clear the way for the harvest. However, in trying to dialogue with Joe, there have been some showstopping issues.

For perspective, Norman offered to Joe to collaborate with him on a Stick of Joseph project back in 2012. Norman quit working with Joe after Joe threatened to sue Norman after Norman had doubts about some of Joe’s ideas. Because of that, Norman kept a polite distance from Joe over the years.

After the issues with Becca drifting toward Talmud, Norman contacted Joe to inquire about his barley search reports, and Joe invited Norman to subscribe and follow his reports, which Norman did. Norman tried to dialogue with Joe privately at first, to ask him please to report on the barley before the new moon sighting, so as not to retroactively declare the new moon (but rather to give the people the necessary 14 days to mobilize for the feast). Joe refused, and ridiculed the idea both privately and publicly.

While the relationship seemed strained, Norman continued to try to dialogue with Joe, trying to build rapport for the sake of the kingdom, focusing mainly on what they had in common in hopes of convincing Joe of the need of the people to have enough time to prepare for the Pesach. At one point Joe asked Norman if he could freely reprint his emails regarding the barley, and Norman said yes–so Norman assumed that the relationship was improving (and he prayed toward that end).

Norman was hopeful for a good relationship, and was therefore extremely surprised when Joe later posted a very negative video about Norman (saying things that were not true) without ever notifying Norman, or even mentioning his grievances privately to Norman. Rather, Joe simply posted a slanderous video with several untruths and half-truths, without notification (i.e., when he thought Norman was not looking).

Norman then tried to correct the record, and Joe accused Norman of Lashon hará (evil speech) for attempting to correct the record. In our view, Joe’s behavior was not brotherly (and speaks of a wrong spirit).

More to the point, Joe denies any need to inspect the barley prior to the new moon, so that the people can have enough time to prepare. Rather, Joe maintains that you can declare the month of the Aviv retroactively up until Yom HaNafat HaOmer (Wave Sheaf Day), anywhere from 1 to 7 days after the Pesach. He also denies that this constitutes retroactive declaration, and he ridicules the idea that the people need 14 days to prepare for the Pesach (to apply for time off work, buy plane tickets and accommodations, take a lamb on the 10th, etc.). (In our view, 14 days is a minimal amount of time.)

Joe also teaches against the need for a single declaration from a single national authority, so that the nation can all keep the feast together. Rather, Joe teaches against the need for a priestly authority, teaching instead that that the people would all know spontaneously that it was the month of green heads just by “looking out the window”, even though barley ripens over a 2 (or even a 3) month timeframe in Israel (depending on your location and microclimate).

The big problem with this is that this is not how it was done in Scripture. Rather, Scripture records that Israel is not called to be a “Messianic Mob”, but a spiritual and physical army with centralized leadership and authority. As such, there was always to be a single declaration given for the nation, so that the nation could respond as one man, and that all things could be done decently, and in order (e.g., Exodus 13:4, 2 Chronicles 30).

To say things respectfully and in love, while Joe seems to have the right basic idea in general about presenting the very first true sheaf, there are some theological and methodological problems that disqualify him as a witness. We only have time to cover the major ones here.

On the positive side, after serious consideration, we believe that Joe’s policy of declaring the aviv based on the very first barley in the land (without respect to roads, heat islands, or other “hot spots”) is 100% correct, as the whole point is to present Yahweh with the very first of the aviv barley (just as Yeshua was truly the first), bringing Yahweh the first and the finest, to clear the way for the harvest. That way, none of the farmers need to lose their crops.

For example, as of 2026, we agree with Joe about not just the Mash’en location, but also the Pumphouse (even between the roads), as the ultimate purpose is to present Yahweh with the very first of the firstfruits, to clear the way for the rest of the harvest. We congratulate Joe on having championed this cause (even if we object to the manner of it, and the timing of the late declaration). We will consider pumphouse sightings in the future, and we again thank Joe for bringing this issue to our attention, as this is the resolution we were always trying to get from Becca Biderman (without success).

We also thank Joe for leading a team of 14 brave volunteers to search for barley in Israel during 2026 wartime, at great personal risk and expense. They ventured forth to do the right thing, and Yahweh protected them. We ask for your prayers that Yahweh will please bless them as well.

However, sadly, due to Joe’s unrepentant attacks on Norman and his refusal to acknowledge the need of the people to have proper (14 days) notice, and his denial of the need for verification and a centralized declaration of the aviv, we are not able to certify Joe as a barley witness, which is sad for us.

Please pray for Joe, and for his 14 brave volunteers.

Devorah’s Date Tree, Abib of God, Yoel Halevi

We often receive questions about other (Karaite, Messianic, etc.) barley groups whose barley witnessing we cannot recommend. The problem is that these groups ignore Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:9 (while claiming they do not), and many of them require an equinox or equilux which we consider sun worship. (Some of which even advertise that they do not even need any stage of barley to begin the new year.)

They also they define “Firstfruits” as a random sheaf from the middle of the harvest. Further, they add rules and definitions that Yahweh does not give (in violation of Devarim 4:2 and other places).

Due to these errors, these calendar groups are generally always a month (or sometimes two months) late in observing the feasts. Therefore, we cannot qualify their inspections. Norman plans to do a full breakdown on their reports in coming weeks, and asks that you please pray about supporting this work if you find such reports helpful.

Nazarene Israel inspections

Norman is preparing for a second spinal surgery (probably in six months’ time, at the time of this posting). Please pray for a successful surgery and that he will be healed in time to go to the land of Israel to inspect barley in 2027. Please also pray for Yahweh to raise up barley witnesses in the land who want to do things according to Tanach (rather than Talmud, and rather than making up their “non-takanot takanot”). 

And, as always, please remember that as important as the barley is, there is a LOT more to our faith than just knowing when the calendar begins! Knowing when the calendar begins is just one small aspect of what we are called to do in building Yeshua’s one true unified ministry kingdom worldwide–and unless we dedicate our free time and our money to this task, Yeshua will take no delight in us, and will likely NOT advocate for us in the Judgment. (This is what Scripture says.)

New Moon Witness Qualifications:

Barley and the new moon are two different things, and several groups sight the first crescent sliver of the new moon reliably, including Yoel HaLevi, Devorah Gordon, Becca Biderman, and others. However, please consider the new moon reporting and the barley reporting to be separate from each other. 

Let us know!

If you have information about additional witnesses to the barley in Israel not listed here which report accurately, please send us their website, or social media links to contact@nazareneisrael.org, so that we may examine the groups’ work and make a qualified determination. 

Additional Calendar and Feast Studies:

Note: NI labels studies with Roman-Greco and Rabbinic calendar dates are for publishing purposes only. 

“Whoever’s calendar you keep, that is who you worship!”