Shabbat shalom, Nazarene Israelites.

1. PRAISE REPORTS, PRAYER REQUESTS, UPDATES:
2 January 5786 (2026)

a. Is it a ‘happy new year’?

You’ve probably heard “happy new year!” a few times already since January 1st. But when is the new year according to Elohim’s word? Is this really the time when the new year begins?

Scripture says the new year begins when the Firstfruits offering is ready to be given by either the 15th or the 21st day of the first month. That means that, according to Elohim’s calendar (the Torah Calendar), instead of watching the ‘big-ball drop’, we watch the barley and the moon!

If you are new to the Torah Calendar, you can find out more about why it is important to keep Yahweh’s calendar (and not Babylonian calendars) in Establishing the Head of the Year.

b. Mystery religions and end-time prophecy

This week’s lesson focuses on how King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter 2 relates to the false religious system that has existed throughout the ages. Tune in to learn how to please Elohim by worshipping Him in faithful obedience to His word.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 

2. STUDIES:

a. This week’s Parasha

“Parashat Va’etchanan: When You Are in Tribulation!“ explains how partial obedience to Yahweh and His written Torah brings about the Great Tribulation, leading 10% of Ephraim to true repentance. It also shows end-time prophecy concerning the house of Judah, Ephraim’s return to the Land after Armageddon (Gog 1), and how we can avoid punishment in Yahweh’s Great Day of Wrath.

c. 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!
Chapter 3 (In progress)

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

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3. SABBATHS, NEW MOONS, AND CALENDAR EVENTS:

a. Feasts of Yahweh:

Please follow the Torah Calendar News page throughout the year for timely updates.

b. next Hebrew month and Rosh HaShanah Timing

The new moon of the next Hebrew month (count to be determined) is expected to be visible on the evening of 20 January. Confirmation will be made upon the sighting of the new moon (or the 30-day default count).

Note: Our understanding of Scripture is that the new year must begin when there is enough aviv barley ready for the Omer (Wave Sheaf) Firstfruits offering to be made by either the 15th or the 21st day of the first month. (Study links available in section 2b.)

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:9
9 “You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain.

Becca Biderman, Ancient Path New Moon reports that barley in the Land of Israel is beginning to grow.
The first barley report of the new season 11/2025, Ancient Path New Moon
Testing GoPro and proving both barley and wheat have germinated 11/21/2025

We are following reports from the Land in order to accurately determine the beginning of the Hebrew year in timing with the firstfruits of barley, as instructed in the Torah. Please stay up-to-date with Torah Calendar News for important barley and Rosh HaShanah updates, we will share pertinent updates as soon as possible.

c. Discipleship Meetings: 

New moon discipleship meeting- 21 January 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:

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.)