21 FEBRUARY 2023
According to Becca Biderman’s most recent barley report on 21 February 2023, there is not today enough aviv (medium dough) barley to form an omer. However, unless Yahweh drastically alters the course of the weather, we believe that there will be enough aviv barley to form an omer by Yom Yom HaNafat HaOmer (the Day of the Wave Sheaf Offering), which this year comes 19 days after Rosh HaShanah (the new year). For that reason, we are declaring the new moon of 21 February 2023 as Rosh HaShanah (the beginning of the new Hebrew year)!
Below are the most recent images as of 21 February 2023, inspection by Becca Biderman of Ancient Path New Moon.
“Within the field there are a few shattering grains, a few indivisible with the thumbnail, a few soft enough to roll into a ball of dough ( bingo!). There’s an area that reminds me of last year’s firstfruits portion of the field.”
Becca Biderman, Israel.
Details:
Currently, 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 cannot take the “first” fruits from the middle of the harvest!). She documents her work, and it seems accurate as far as we can tell.
There are several other (Amalekite) barley groups whose work we cannot recommend in any way. They 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, etc. They are seemingly always a month (or sometimes two months) late, and they try to devalue sister Biderman’s work through (seemingly mean-spirited) tactics.
While several groups sight the first crescent sliver of the new moon well, as far as we can tell, only sister Becca Biderman publishes accurate barley reports. Her inspections of today indicate that there is already some barley in the aviv (medium dough) stage. There are a few stalks already shattering. While there is not enough for an omer on the day of the new moon sighting, the omer is not needed today, but in 19 days (on the day of the Wave Sheaf Offering).
While sister Biderman is not making any predictions, Nazarene Israel believes that unless Yahweh sends catastrophic weather (or otherwise scuttles what can be normally expected), there WILL BE enough aviv barley on Yom HaNafat HaOmer to present the wave sheaf offering. Based on that, Nazarene Israel is declaring the month of the aviv barley, and Rosh HaShanah (the Head of the Year).
Even more details:
As we explain in Establishing the Head of the Year, Feasts of the First Month, and other studies available on the NI website, there only needs to be enough aviv barley ready for the omer (wave sheaf) firstfruit offering by either the 15th or the 21st day of the first month. As explained in these 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:
- Either they must break Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:9 and begin harvesting their crop BEFORE the firstfruit offering has been presented unto Yahweh for the nation. Or
- 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 more on declaring Rosh HaShanah, please visit the Nazarene Israel website for the studies on aviv barley and the Torah calendar.
Rosh HaShanah sameach! (Happy Rosh HaShanah!)
