1a. 11th Hebrew month:
The 11th Hebrew month begins at evening on 20 January 5786/2026. Witnesses to the sighting are below. Rosh chodesh sameach!
17:12, Poria Illit, Becca Biderman
17:18, Jordan Valley
17:20, Zevulun Valley, Yoel Halevi
Additional witnesses in Tiberias, Kiryat Ata
1b. Next Hebrew month (expected) and Rosh HaShanah timing:
The new moon next Hebrew month is expected to be visible from Israel on 18 February. 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 the 15th to the 21st day of the first month. (Study links available in section 3d.) Becca Biderman reported barley beginning to grow in Israel in November 2025. At this time, we have not received any reports of these early barley fields maturing yet, or any reports of barley nearing omer-qualification.
For pertinent Torah Calendar updates, please stay up-to-date with Torah Calendar News. We will report updates concerning barley growth in the Land, Rosh HaShanah, and Yahweh’s Feasts for 5786/2026 via this page. You may also sign up for our weekly newsletters via the ‘join us’ tab to receive updates directly to your inbox.
1c. Feasts 5785-6 / 2026
Please stay tuned to Torah Calendar News for updates.
2a. Calendar studies
2b. Witnesses 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“.) Concerning 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
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