Shabbat shalom, Nazarene Israelites.

1. PRAISE REPORTS, PRAYER REQUESTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS:
13 March 5786 (2026/6026)

a. A change in barley witnesses

Due to the confusion surrounding Rosh HaShanah this year, Nazarene Israel must announce changes to who we qualify as a barley witness. We understand the situation is confusing for many. Please watch this week’s 2-part videos for the full explanation. And please keep the situation with the barely inspections in prayer.

b. 1st Shabbat in count to Shavuot

Yom HaNafat HaOmer was on the 8th of March. The 14th of March  5786/2026 (beginning the evening before) is the 1st of seven Shabbatot count up to Shavuot (Pentecost). Shavuot is on 26 April 5786/2026.

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:15-16
15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 
16  Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to Yahweh.

2. STUDIES:

a. New releases:

Why the Second Pesach for 5786/2026 Part 1

Why the Second Pesach for 5786/2026 Part 2

We understand that the contradicting barley reports and the sudden reversal has some people confused. We relate to the frustrations that exist. We also rely on the barely reports from Israel. It causes a lot of chaos if those reports are not made on time or accurately. That said, we should remain positive and continue edifying ourselves as we move forward.

Some of you have asked good questions and some of you have shared your own experiences with some of the barley reporters. Norman hopes to answer many of your questions and concerns with these videos. There are a lot of details to cover and he may need to record additional studies in the weeks ahead to cover all of the necessary information (if Yahweh wills it). We hope this is helpful in resolving some of the concerns. We ask that you would all please continue to praying with us for reliable barley reporting from the Land of Israel.

b. This week’s Parasha:

“Parashat Vayeira: Yeshua: Manifestation of Elohim”

In Parashat Vayeira, Norman explains about Yeshua’s Tanakh-based divinity and what it means to be a manifestation of Yahweh Elohim. (The nascent Sanhedrin must not have liked the topic, because their associate left us threats on our YouTube channel!) Continuing on, the study examines Avraham’s faithfulness and obedience to Yahweh in offering up Yitzhak, and the promise of the Covenant through Yitzhak (Isaac) and his descendants.

It also shows the parallels between Avraham’s willing sacrifice of Yitzhak and the sacrifice of Yeshua HaMashiach, and the concept of ‘two Yahwehs’ found in B’reisheet (Genesis) 19 and other passages, (a doctrine found in early Judaism); and the Hebraic definition of ‘echad’. Other topics in Parashat Vayeira include biblical weaning; the rabbinic law of not mixing milk and meat, and errors of the Karaite calendar.

c. Want more?

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

(To receive activities in Spanish, please sign up for the Spanish newsletter.)

e. Nazarene Israel worship music

Introducing our new music channel for original Nazarene Israel worship music that aligns with the Original Faith. (More content to be added over time, Yahweh willing.) We hope you enjoy “If Thou Love Me“, and “By Yahweh’s Every Word” as praise and worship unto Yahweh Elohim. Feel free to like, subscribe, and share!

3. SABBATHS, NEW MOONS, AND CALENDAR EVENTS:

a. Feasts of Yahweh:

This year’s feast schedules are available below. If you observed 19 February 5786/2026 as Rosh HaShanah, please follow the first Pesach schedule as normal. If you were unable to keep the first Pesach this year due to the incomplete barley reports, please follow the 2nd Pesach schedule for the feasts of the first month. Estimated timing is given for the Feasts of the 7th Hebrew month. Please remember that these dates could possibly change by a day or two, depending on the confirmation of the beginning of the 7th month. Confirmation of the 7th month feasts will be made at that time.

Printable PDF- 1st Pesach schedule

Printable PDF- 2nd Pesach schedule

Please see Torah Calendar News for full details and latest calendar news updates.

b. Next Hebrew month 5786/2026

The new moon of the second Hebrew month is expected to be visible from Israel on 20 March. Confirmation will be made upon the sighting of the new moon (or the 30-day default count). Upon confirmation.

c. Discipleship Meetings: 

New moon discipleship meeting- 21 March 2026 (expected)

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:

There are several barley calendar groups and individual inspectors. We recognize that each group does good things, and we appreciate each group for their efforts. We believe they all mean well. 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, recently we have noticed her definitions and her inspection requirements changing. Last year, 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:
As of 5786/2026, we are cautiously and tentatively switching to use Joe Dumond and his group for our main inspection reports. Joe has the right basic idea, and is doing some good things in his inspections, and we are encouraging him to make some small but important changes that will make his barley reporting much easier to use. In love, we have asked him to make some small-but-important changes regarding his barley inspection technique, and in the details of his reporting. These things can be improved to benefit our whole nation, if Joe is willing. (We ask for your prayers that he will be willing!)

One issue is that Sighted Moon’s video footage is difficult to verify. It is not always clear exactly where the inspection is taking place, so that other inspectors can verify. We need to know how far away from the road the inspection took place, the condition of the ground (has the earth been compacted or altered by man), etc. We are also asking him to use the accepted terminology, rather than redefine things. Further, it would be great if Joe would please respond to requests for clarification.

In addition, Joe also teaches retroactive declarations of the barley. That is, they believe that it is okay to report their inspection results AFTER the new month has already begun. This causes chaos. Most people need the full 14 days that Yahweh allows, so they can get time off work, pack, travel, etc., to obey Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:16 and Shemote (Exodus) 34:22:23, especially if they live outside of the land.

All of that said, even with late reporting and a lot of unclear video footage, Sighted Moon found several fields of late worm or early soft dough barley with 11 days to go, in shirt-sleeve weather, full sun, and all other qualifiers in place near Checkpoint Charlie. (While the Mash’en location was a very questionable “hotspot”, it seems that there was ample barley in the Checkpoint Charlie area, with plenty of time to come ripe.) Sadly, Joe refused to do a reinspection of Checkpoint Charlie the day following the Omer offering, but with decent weather, 11 days is ample time to go from the worm stage, to medium dough (aviv).

In summation, there are many outside the Land who desire to keep the feasts in keeping with Torah, who are dependent upon clear, accurate, and timely reporting by the inspectors. Such inspections would have been necessary in ancient times, as well. 2 Chronicles 30 shows a clear need to send out messengers throughout the Land with enough time for the people to mobilize and respond. That is to say that Time is a critical factor.

We humbly ask our brother Joseph Dumond to inspect and report prior to the start of the month next year, and to use the standard terminology and definitions for verbally identifying aviv dough, and to edify his video footage to be clearer (and to provide still closeups) for the priesthood (as a qualifying authority), and for those watching outside the Land. We believe that focusing on these improvements will help Joe in his work, as well as those of us following his reports.

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). 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.

New moon witnesses:
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, social media links, or any other information to contact@nazareneisrael.org, so that we may examine the groups’ work and make a qualified determination.

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.)