FEASTS OF THE FIRST MONTH: (NEW updates below!)
PESACH RECIPES HERE!
19 April 2023
A. As of 19 April 2023, Becca Biderman of Ancient Path New Moon reports that there are multiple fields of advanced-stage wheat found in the land of Israel. Upon inspection, the green grains are in a soft-dough stage. And the firstfruits of the wheat (those which have already begun to turn black in color) are already in a hard-dough stage. (See Becca Biderman’s inspection video below.) For more on Pentecost, continue to Section B. And for more on how the firstfruits of wheat are symbolic of Yeshua (as are also the firstfruits of barley), please read “Deeper Symbolism in the Feasts“, chapter 16 in Nazarene Israel’s The Torah Calendar.
B. The name Pentecost means count fifty, and we count fifty days from the day of Yom HaNafat HaOmer (which is the day after the Sabbath of the Passover week), and then we bring a new grain offering of wheat to Yahweh.
Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:15-16
15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the [weekly] Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.
16 Count fifty days, to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to Yahweh.’”
In Israel, the oats, the barley, and the wild heirloom black Emmer wheat all come out of the ground at the same time, but they develop at different rates. However, if we time Rosh HaShanah correctly, then not only will the firstfruits of barley be ready by Yom HaNafat HaOmer, but the firstfruits of wheat will also be ready by Shavuot. This is perhaps why Shavuot is also called “the day of the firstfruits (of wheat).” (Note: the word firstfruits is biccurim (בִּכּוּרִים), which as we saw earlier is the word for the very first of the new fruits.)
Bemidbar (Numbers) 28:26
26 “Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to Yahweh at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a set-apart gathering. You shall do no customary work.”
Exodus 34:22 gives us another witness that we need the firstfruits of wheat for Shavuot.
Shemote (Exodus) 34:22
22 “And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits [בִּכּוּרֵי] of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end.
Further, in the same way we are told to bring an omer of the firstfruits of our barley for Yom HaNafat HaOmer, Leviticus 23:15-17 tells us to present two leavened wave-loaves from the firstfruits of the new crop of wheat.
Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:15-17
15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the [barley] wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.
16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to Yahweh.
17 You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits [בִּכּוּרִים] to Yahweh.”
14 March 2023
“Look what the Father יהוה, has given us! The wheat is coming out!… The Father’s timing is impeccable. Thank you יהוה ”
-Becca Biderman, Acient Path New Moon, Israel barley and new moon inspections.
6 March 2023
“We have a good quantity of barley that aviv ready…..keep the Feast with rejoicing!” – Becca Biderman, barley inspector – Israel.
Praise be to Yahweh our Father! His timing with the aviv barley proves perfect every year! As of the latest barley report by Becca Biderman (Acient Path New Moon) on 6 March 2023, THERE IS officially enough AVIV BARLEY to present the TRUE FIRSTFRUITS unto Yahweh Elohim on Yom HaNafat HaOmer (the day of the wave sheaf offering) on 12 March 2023. Please see the 6 March 2023 inspection report below or by following this link to Ancient Path and New Moon. Pesach sameach and Chag HaMatzot sameach!
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: A) 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 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 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!)
14 FEBRUARY 2023
Currently, as of 15 February 2023, no barley has been found that qualifies for beginning the new Hebrew Year next month, at the 22 February “expected” new moon sighting. There is still a small possibility that the barley (image #1) may be ready by the new moon. The following photos and explanation is from Ancient Path New Moon, Becca Biderman-barley witness, Israel, 14 February posting. Please remain attentive for future updates.
Photo #1: The barley in photo #1 is not ready. This photo holds the most hope for the start of a new year next month, although I’m not finished hunting yet. So all my hope are not on this location. [Flocks have been in part of the field which is not a Torah violation.]- Becca Biderman.
24 JANUARY 2023
Shalom! After inspection of the barley photographed 3 January and 19 January (previous posts), Becca Biderman confrimed that the barley is further along than the barley in Galilee, but is not close to aviv stage. Below is Becca’s commentary and photograph of the inspection.
“So much further along than the Galilee, but nothing to get excited about.” (Becca Biderman, Anciet Path New Moon,
19 JANUARY 2023
Below, photos of barley found in the land of Israel in January 2023. Becca Biderman (barley and new moon witness, Israel) reports that the barley is in advancing early this ‘growing season’, with barley heads showing in the image. Please watch for updates in the following weeks concerning the barley development.
“I will visit the location in yesterday’s [19 January 2023] photos in the first half of next week. All I can tell you now is that this area has barley with heads showing. That’s the significance of the photos. I don’t know if the heads have bloomed or have starch; I’ll know after I visit there. This rainy season has been the hottest season of the last fifty years. There has been little rain. Plus, we’ve already seen a field of wild oats in my area. I’m not surprised to find a region of barley this advanced with everything the earth and the heavens have/haven’t provided.”
“The barley in the photos only proves that things are clipping along at a nice little pace. However, there is talk from my weather nerd group of a cold and rainy end of January into February. I say good because it will slow things down a little. I, for one, love the green and growing season. It never stays around long enough for me. Maybe, just maybe, we can have an extra month this year, idk. That will be up to יהוה I’m just reporting what He’s doing.” -Becca Biderman, Poria Illit, Israel.
3 JANUARY 2023
Below, a field or wild oats in the land of Israel. The significance is that there is a possibility of barley in the land of Israel. Image courtesy of sister Becca Biderman, Israel.
