Shabbat shalom, Nazarenes.
1. PRAISE REPORTS, PRAYER REQUESTS, UPDATES: 1 March 2024.
As of 1 March 2024, we have not yet received any report of an omers’ worth of aviv barley in the land of Israel. We use Becca Biderman as the only qualified barley witness that we know. (There are other barley witnesses, but they do not use the true first fruits of barley for their omer. Rather, they use a random sheaf from the middle of the harvest [but that is the “mid-fruits”, not the firstfruits].)In her 1 March video update, barley witness Becca Biderman (Ancient Path New Moon, Poriyah Ilit, Israel) said there is aviv barley in some areas of Israel, and that the barley in those areas is between 40%-60% aviv. She said that there is not ‘yet’ enough for an omer. However, there are about ten more days before the determination must be made.The new moon of the next Hebrew month is expected to be visible on 11 March 2024. However, before Nazarene Israel can celebrate Rosh HaShanah (the head of the Hebrew year), an omer’s worth of aviv barley would have to be ready to present 15-21 days later (on Yom HaNafat HaOmer, the Day of the Wave Sheaf Offering).In simple terms, what this means is that before Nazarene Israel can declare the next new moon day as Rosh HaShanah, we must be sure that there will be an omer’s worth of aviv barley on Yom HaNafat HaOmer, which is still about a month away (31 March 2024). The determination must be made not later than the sighting of the first crescent sliver of the new moon (which is about ten days away at this point).
While we want to wait on our barley witness, it seems very likely that there will be sufficient aviv barley on or before the new moon day, let alone the day of the wave sheaf offering, 15-21 days later. So, while we plan to wait for the official declaration, a declaration of Rosh HaShanah this Rosh Chodesh seems very likely, but unconfirmed at this time. We will continue to post updates on our Torah Calendar News page as reports arrive from qualified barley witnesses in Israel.
We will continue to post updates on our Torah Calendar News page as reports arrive from Israel.
For the March scenario feast dates, and more about how to correctly declare Rosh HaShanah (according to Scripture) please see section 3c and 3d below.
STUDIES.
2a. Tree of Knowledge, Tree of Life
In our study titled, “Tree of Knowledge, Tree of Life” we explore the symbolic representations of both trees within the Garden of Eden and how they relate to our relationship with Yahweh and His Son, Yeshua. The written version can be found in Nazarene Israel Scripture Studies, vol. 1.
2b. Previous Studies:
Last week’s video: About Predestination
Parashiot videos (2023-4)
Video Studies
Video Shorts
Book Studies
2c. Beit Sefer Children’s Publications (Home Page):
(To receive activities in Spanish, please sign up for the Spanish newsletter.)
For Children’s Parasha Activities, please click here.
For Children’s Tanach Activities, please click here.
For Children’s Brit Chadasha Activities, please click here.
For Children’s Hebrew Lessons, please click here.
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SABBATHS, NEW MOONS, AND CALENDAR EVENTS:
3a. New Moon of the 1st Hebrew month (Rosh HaShanah) or 14th Hebrew month:The next new moon is expected to be visible on 11 March. 2024. We are currently watching reports from Israel that will determine whether the new moon in March will be Rosh HaShanah, or the beginning of a 14th Hebrew month. For more details and links to reports from Israel, please visit Torah Calendar News 2024. (More information in 3c.)
3b. Upcoming Discipleship Meetings: All meetings are at 8 AM Colombian time (always UTC-5, but watch your Daylight Savings Time adjustments). The Discipleship Meeting is a discussion between disciples. It is generally 1-hour long but may run longer depending on how the Spirit leads. For more on NI’s description of discipleship, please see NI’s Discipleship program.
12 March (expected)- New Moon meeting of 1st Hebrew month (Rosh HaShanah) OR 14th Hebrew month.
Note: If the monthly Discipleship Meeting coincides with the weekly Shabbat Meeting, the Shabbat Meeting will take precedence, and new moon discussion will be combined with the Shabbat meeting. However, in the case of a Feast Day Meeting coinciding with a Shabbat meeting, the Feast Day Meeting will take precedence.
3c. Torah Calender News Updates.Below is the possible schedule for Yahweh’s feasts for year 5784-5 / 2024, if the 11 March Rosh HaShanah (Possible Scenario) is later confirmed. We emphasize that the schedule below lists expected dates only. Scripturally, we cannot make an official Rosh HaShanah declaration until the time of the new moon sighting in the land of Israel, with a coinciding report that the barley will also be ready (in its aviv stage) within the 15-21 day time frame after the new moon sighting (in time for Yom HaNafat HaOmer, or the Day of the Wave Sheaf Offering).
While we cannot confirm a March Rosh HaShanah until the day of the new moon, we also understand that many Nazarenes living in the dispersia hold jobs in the Babylonian system, where it is necessary to submit time-off requests in enough time for Yahweh’s celebrations in which He commands no servile work to be done. We hope this 11 March Rosh HaShanah (Possible Scenario) will be helpful for our Nazarene brothers and sisters in planning for Yahweh’s special days, whether Rosh HaShanah is declared in March, or whether we will have a 14th Hebrew month. (In the instance of a 14th Hebrew month, a new schedule will be posted for a Rosh HaShanah declaration in April.)
3d. Why the FirstFruits Torah Calendar?
Every year we receive questions about the Firstfruits Torah calendar and why it differs from more well-known Karaite, Jewish, and Messianic calendars. Whether one is brand new at observing the biblical feasts or has been observing the biblical feasts for years, the different calendars that exist can cause a lot of confusion.
If we follow Scripture without adding or taking away from Yahweh’s word, it becomes apparent that there are significant errors in the Karaite, Jewish, and Messianic calendars. We explain these errors in the following studies, as well as why it is important to follow the true Firstfruits, Torah calendar in order to observe Yahweh’s feasts at His appointed times only.
To know more about why you and your family should be observing the FirstFruits Torah Calendar, please view the studies below.
4. NAZARENE REVELATION NEWS:
I encourage you to check the news each week, to follow the trends of the four horses. Also, if you have never gone through the permanent links, we urge you to read them. Click here to read the Nazarene Revelation News on the website. (You must be logged in to view.)
The purpose of the Revelation News is to show that the Revelation Timeline is correct (as explained in the study, Revelation and the End Times.) Links on the news page are for the sole purpose of giving updates pertinent to the Revelation news timeline. Nazarene Israel does not necessarily support doctrine shared in outside news sources.
Everything is still 100% on track according to the Revelation Timeline in Revelation and the End Times!
