Barley update

28 February 2025

a. Rosh HaShanah/feasts of the first month 2025 scenarios

As of 28 Feb 2025, we have received NO reports of an omer of aviv barley in the land of Israel (and nothing even close).

Messianic sister Becca Biderman (Ancient Path New Moons, Israel) reports that there are some areas in Israel which do have enough barley to make an omer, and that this barley is currently ‘in a fruiting stage’, but that it is NOT aviv barley, as there is NO food substance in the head (i.e., no water or starch).

That means that this barley is not yet viable medium dough (aviv) seed, and is very unlikely to qualify as aviv barley by the Day of the Wave Sheaf Offering (Yom HaNafat HaOmer). (For the detailed explanation of what constitutes aviv barley, please see the studies listed in ‘Calendar studies’, below.)

[Aviv Barley Update Feb 27 2025, Becca Biderman, Israel. Images show new barley, awns beginning to grow, and no substance in heads.]

As we explain in our calendar studies, before Nazarene Israel can declare the month of the Aviv and Rosh HaShanah (the head of the Hebrew year), we must know that there will be an omer’s worth of aviv (medium dough) barley on Yom HaNafat HaOmer (or the Day of the Wave Sheaf Offering) 15-21 days later.

Further, this determination must be made NOT LATER THAN the sighting of the first crescent sliver of the new moon, so that the people have enough time to prepare to go up to Jerusalem, in keeping with Deuteronomy 16:16-17. (This would have been especially important in ancient times, as it takes time to prepare, and then travel up to Jerusalem on foot or with pack animals.)

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:16-17
16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before Yahweh your Elohim in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread [HaMazot], at the Feast of Weeks [Shavuot], and at the Feast of Tabernacles [Sukkot]; and they shall not appear before Yahweh empty-handed.
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Yahweh your Elohim which He has given you.

The next new moon is expected to be seen on or about the evening of 1 March 2025. If Nazarene Israel can determine that there WILL be an omer of aviv barley by 16 March 2025 then we will declare the Head of the Year. (This seems extremely unlikely at this point but we have to wait for the date to make the determination.)

However, if on 1 March it seems that there will NOT be an omer of aviv barley by Yom HaNafat HaOmer (16 March 2025), then we will delay a month, and watch for scenario #2 a month later (shown in the table below).

We encourage you to check out our calendar studies, which explain how to observe the calendar correctly, and avoid common errors. A full list of studies can be found in ‘Calendar studies’ below for convenience. We also encourage you to track our calendar updates on our Torah Calendar News page.

And just as a brief note, some ministries are declaring that you must be able to substantially “bring in the harvest” before you can declare the month of the Aviv. To see why this is completely wrong (and is damaging to the farmers), please check out our study, “Let’s Not Break Deuteronomy 16:9!”

b. Next new moon (expected): 1 March 2025 (evening)

The 12th Hebrew month began on the evening of 30 January 2025. The next new moon is expected to be visible from Israel on 1 March 2025. Confirmation will be made upon the sighting of the new moon (or the 30-day default count). As of 28 February 2025, it is unlikely that NI will be able to declare Rosh HaShanah on 1 March 2025. However, we must wait until the new moon to make the determination. Please see above section for more details.

Please stay attentive to Torah Calendar News for updates concerning new moons, barley reports, Rosh HaShanah 5785/2025 confirmation, and feasts for the coming Hebrew year.

Calendar studies

Find more on how to correctly declare Rosh HaShanah (according to Scripture) here!
Find full calendar studies below.