11 February 2024
The new moon of the 13th Hebrew month has been seen from the land of Israel on the evening of 11 February 2024 by the following witnesses:
At 7:17 pm – in Poriyah Ilit, Israel, witnessed by Becca Biderman, Ancient Path New Moon
At 5:16 pm – Zevulun Valley, northern Israel, posted by Yoel Halevi, Hebrew in Israel
And multiple other witnesses.
On 9 February 2024, we received a report from Becca Biderman about a patch of young, white-colored barley found in southern Israel. (Click here for Becca Biderman’s full report with photos.) As Becca explains in her video, the heads of this barley were standing straight up. This means that the barley heads were empty and light, and did not have any starch in them at that time and that this barley is not near the aviv stage.
At this time (11 February 2024), we have not received any reports of any other barley in the land of Israel close to the aviv stage. (To learn how to identify aviv barley, please watch or read the studies listed at the bottom of this post.)
As we explain in our NI calendar studies, it is necessary to have an omer-quantity of firstfruits barley in the aviv stage within the 15-21 day time period after Rosh HaShanah, to be ready for Yom HaNafat HaOmer (the Day of the Wave Sheaf Offering).
In other words, on the day that the new moon is witnessed in the land of Israel (or at the beginning of the month if by default), in order to declare Rosh HaShanah (the head of the Hebrew Year) on the day of the new moon, there must be barley in the land of Israel (enough for a wave sheaf offering) that will be at the aviv stage within 15-21 days after the new moon. As of 11 February 2024, we do not have any barley close to being ready (aviv stage) for the wave sheaf offering within the 15-21 day time period after this new moon, necessary to declare Rosh HaShanah.
In ancient times, it was necessary to have enough time for a runner to go throughout the land of Israel to announce Rosh HaShanah to the entire nation. And it was also necessary for the people of Israel (at least the men, and ideally the entire family) to have time to travel to Jerusalem for the feasts.
Due to these reasons, we are unable to scriptually declare Rosh HaShanah on this new moon of 11 February 2024.
Therefore, this new moon begins a 13th Hebrew month. The new moon in March will be the next possible scenario for a Rosh HaShanah declaration. However, the growth stages of barley in Israel is highly affected by weather and temperature patterns., and a 14th month scenario is also possible if weather remains cold in Israel for an extended period. We will continue to post updates to Torah Calendar News 2024 here.
Rosh Chodesh sameach, 13th Hebrew month!
