Barley update

8 March 2024

As of 8 March 2024, Messianic barley witness Becca Biderman, Poriyah Illit, Israel, reports: “There is an area of barley that is 90% Aviv. The area is 50 X 25; at least; 1250 sq ft.  An omer of domestic barley covers 800 Sq ft.” (Video to come…)

The new moon of the next Hebrew month is expected to be visible on 11 March 2024. Before Nazarene Israel can celebrate Rosh HaShanah (the head of the Hebrew year), an omer’s worth of aviv barley would have to be ready to present 15-21 days later (on Yom HaNafat HaOmer, the Day of the Wave Sheaf Offering).

In simple terms, what this means is that before Nazarene Israel can declare the next new moon day as Rosh HaShanah, we must be sure that there will be an omer’s worth of aviv barley on Yom HaNafat HaOmer, a little more than 3 weeks away (31 March 2024). The determination must be made not later than the sighting of the first crescent sliver of the new moon (which is about 3 days away at this point).

While we want to wait on our barley witness, it seems very likely that there will be sufficient aviv barley on or before the new moon day, let alone the day of the wave sheaf offering, 15-21 days later. So, while we plan to wait for the official declaration, a declaration of Rosh HaShanah this Rosh Chodesh seems very likely, but unconfirmed at this time. We will continue to post updates on our Torah Calendar News page as reports arrive from qualified barley witnesses in Israel.

Find the March scenario feast dates here!
Find more on how to correctly declare Rosh HaShanah (according to Scripture) here!