Shabbat shalom, Nazarene Israelites.

1. PRAISE REPORTS, PRAYER REQUESTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS:
13 February 5786 (2026)

a. Barley/RH update

Reports from Israel indicate that the next new moon (expected to be visible from Israel on 18 February) will likely begin of the 12th Hebrew month. Please see section 3 below for more details on possible Rosh HaShanah scenarios and on the stage of the barley in the Land of Israel.

2. STUDIES:

a. This week’s study:

“Prayer Request for the House of Joseph” explains how Orthodox Judah wrongly identifies Joseph as Rome, when Roman Christians and Josephite Notzrim are of two completely different spirits. A crucial matter as Talmudic law condemns all Christians (Notzrim) and non-Orthodox sects to death, as evident in the Birkhat HaMinim and other Talmudic passages.

b. This week’s Parasha:

“Parashat Nitzavim: Torah Requires an Organized Nation“ explains how Yahweh called all twelve tribes into covenant with Him as an ordered nation, and our role in building Yeshua HaMashiach a literal kingdom (His body, the Tabernacle of David, the Stick of Joseph, the sect of the Nazarenes) in His absence upon the written Torah.

Video Studies 
Book Studies  

d. End the War Against Joseph documentary series:

Chapter 1: Why is Yeshua (Jesus) Mashiach ben Yosef (Messiah, Son of Joseph)?
Chapter 2: The Two Types of Christians!

e. Beit Sefer Children’s Publications (Home Page):

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3. SABBATHS, NEW MOONS, AND CALENDAR EVENTS:

a. Feasts of Yahweh:

The following are two possible scenarios for Rosh HaShanah and the feasts of the first month (including Shavuot). As always, dates are dependent on 1. confirmation of the new moon in the Land of Israel (or the 30-day default), and 2. whether an omer’s worth of aviv barley would be ready to present on the Day of the Wave Sheaf Offering 15-21 days later, as determined by the first of the month.

Scenario 1: As of 13 February 2026, Becca Biderman reports that there are no fruiting heads of legitimate barley in the Land of Israel at this time. (She says not yet, but soon.) Becca also reports that the anemones are still in bloom across Israel and there is no flax on the earth in Israel. (As we explain in our studies, Shemote/Exodus 9:31-35 states that the flax and barley were both destroyed because the flax was in bloom and the barley was aviv.)

Some other barley groups monitor roadside barley in the Southern Jordan checkpoint area. Becca explains how unnatural heating elements cause the barley in these areas to grow unnaturally quicker than the rest of the Land. Therefore, barley in these areas cannot represent the natural state of barley in the Land.

In summation, as of today, it is still too early for aviv barley. Therefore, the next new moon (expected to be visible on 18 February) is likely too early to be declared as Rosh HaShanah. (Final confirmation will be announced at that time.)

Scenario 2: The new moon (expected to be visible from Israel on 20 March 2026) is a more likely scenario for Rosh HaShanah 2026. based upon the current state of the Land and the order in which things are known to grow each season in Israel. However, as always, we must wait for Yahweh’s timing to know when there will be an omer’s worth of aviv barley ready in the Land of Israel by 15-21 days after the start of the new month.

If for some reason Scenario 2 does not fit the requirements, we will post the next scenario afterwards. Please continue reading for more details.

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.

Currently, Becca Biderman is the only barley witness we know who identifies aviv barley accurately. (We do not support all of Becca’s work, but she seems to define aviv barley accurately. And we cannot support other groups that violate Scripture.)

Please stay up-to-date with Torah Calendar News for important updates on Rosh HaShanah and the feasts.

b. Next Hebrew month and Rosh HaShanah timing 5786/2026

The new moon of the 11th Hebrew month was witnessed from Israel on the evening of 20 January. The new moon of the next Hebrew month is expected to be visible from Israel on 18 February (possibly one day later).

Reports from Israel indicate that the next new moon (expected to be visible from Israel on 18 February) will likely begin of the 12th Hebrew month. Confirmation will be made upon the sighting of the new moon (or the 30-day default count). Please remain current with Torah Calendar News as we continue to share updates for Rosh HaShanah and the feasts for 2026.

c. Discipleship Meetings: 

New moon discipleship meeting- 19 February 2026 (expected)
(Please remain attentive to TCN for Rosh HaShanah timing)

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.

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.

d. Why the Firstfruits Torah Calendar?

We often receive inquiries about why NI observes the Hebrew months at different times from the other calendar groups (such as the Messianic, Karaites, and Rabbinical groups). There are several reasons, but the main reason is that we begin the calendar year with the (true) Firstfruits of barley. In contrast, other groups take a sheaf from the main harvest, and falsely call them the “first” fruits (when they are more like the “main” fruits.)

Because of this, most Messianic and the Karaite groups will usually be a month (or even two) late. Learn all about the Firstfruits Torah calendar, (and how the Jewish, Karaite, Messianic, and the equinox calendars violate Scripture) in our studies on the biblical calendar.

Note: Roman-Greco and rabbinic calendar dates are utilized for those who are learning, and for publishing purposes. It should be noted that neither the Hillel II Jewish calendar, nor the Roman-Greco calendar are Yahweh’s calendar described in Scripture. Nazarene Israelites should be following the Torah Calendar (the Firstfruits Calendar) and keeping Rosh Hashanah accordingly.

e. Aviv barley, wave sheaf, and witnesses:

Current witness qualification:
Currently, sister Becca Biderman of Ancient Path New Moon is the only barley inspector who seems to understand what a proper wave sheaf is, and why you should not let the true Firstfruits fall to the ground, (so you can take your “first” fruits offering from the middle of the harvest, as other groups do).

For reasons explained in our studies, NI does not support Messianic doctrine. (For more on this topic, please see NI’s 2025 explanation in “Babylon Mystery Calendars“.) However, as far as barley inspections, Becca documents her barley inspections and her definitions of aviv barley seem accurate according to our understanding of Scripture.

Other barley groups:
There are several other groups whose barley witnessing we cannot recommend. These groups 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, (in violation of Devarim 4:2). Due to these errors, these calendar groups are generally always a month (or sometimes two months) late in observing the feasts.

New moon witnesses:
Several groups sight the first crescent sliver of the new moon well. Various new moon witnesses are recorded each month in the new moon reports. Again, while several groups accurately witness the new moon, to our knowledge, only sister Becca Biderman publishes accurate barley reports.

Declaring Rosh HaShanah at the correct time:
As we explain in our studies (see list above), there only needs to be enough aviv barley ready for the Omer (Wave Sheaf) Firstfruits offering by either the 15th or the 21st day of the first month. As explained in our studies, it is a disaster if we declare Rosh HaShanah too late, because it would force farmers in the land of Israel who have the earliest ripening barley to do one of two things:

A) Either they must break Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:9 and begin harvesting their crop BEFORE the Firstfruits offering has been presented unto Yahweh for the nation. Or
B) Lose all or part of their barley crop, while they wait an extra month for the leaders to declare Rosh HaShanah!

By declaring the true Firstfruits unto Yahweh Elohim as He commands, and keeping His appointed days according to His perfect timing, the farmers do not need to lose their crops; neither are they encouraged to break any of Yahweh’s commandments.

For studies on declaring Rosh HaShanah, aviv barley, and the Torah Calendar, please see section 2b.
For more on the current barley inspections, please visit NI Torah Calendar News

4. NAZARENE ISRAEL REVELATION NEWS:

We 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.)