Torah Calendar News 2024
Every year we receive questions about the Firstfruits (Aviv) Torah Calendar and how it differs from Karaite, Jewish, and Messianic calendars. If we follow Scripture without adding or taking away from Yahweh’s word, it becomes apparent that there are significant errors in the Karaite, Jewish, and Messianic calendars. Some of these errors include taking a random omer of barley from the middle of the harvest rather than a true firstfruit offering, taking barley that is beyond it’s aviv (green) stage, following the equinox, and disqualifying certain types of barley. (Please visit the study links below to receive a better understanding of these critical errors.)
The barley and the wave sheaf offering has special spiritual meaning. When we understand the symbolism in Yahweh’s feasts, we can understand why keeping Yahweh’s feasts at HIS appointed times is very important. We hope the following studies and Torah Calendar News 2024 updates will help you both understand the symbolism in Yahweh’s feasts and keep His feasts at the correct time.
Please remain up to date with Torah Calendar News 2024 for continued updates throughout the year.
9 February
As of 9 February 2024, we have received no report of aviv barley in the land of Israel. Becca has found barley that is in a young, white stage. The heads of this barley are standing straight up and do not have any starch in them at this time. It is still a “watch and see” situation whether we will have any barley in the aviv stage in time to declare Rosh HaShanah at the next (February) new moon or to declare a 13th Hebrew month. For further information on Becca Biderman’s recent barley update, please watch: Becca Biderman: Southern Barley Video.
8 February
Becca Biderman update 8 February 2024: “There is a slim chance this will be a 12 month year. But a chance nonetheless. I did find an amazing amount of super young barley with heads from white to blooming to just beginning to tip their heads. Stay tuned. I’ll try to get a video up but don’t think it will happen today, likely tomorrow. Oh, the great thing about this area is there are no shepherds with flocks to eat the tender grains! At least not yet.”
27 January
The beginning of the next Hebrew month is expected to be visible on or around 11 February 2024. We are eagerly watching the barley reports from the land of Israel to know whether the next new moon will be the beginning of a 13th Hebrew month, or whether it will be the head of the new Hebrew year (Rosh HaShanah). As we explain in several studies, it is necessary to have an omer-quantity of firstfruits aviv barley for the wave sheaf offering within the 15-21 day time period after declaring Rosh HaShanah. Becca Biderman reports:
“Currently, as of 27 January 2024, there is no quantity of mature barley available that would have the appearance it could produce starch. If we had to declare it [Rosh HaShanah] at this point, we could not declar it [Rosh HaShanah].”
“I’m not saying it’s not possible. I’m saying that the first of the next [Hebrew] month, which should be (if it’s a 12-month year) the first month of the year [Rosh HaShanah], I’m saying that’s quickly approaching. And you know, last year was awful close, but we were watching something. This year I really don’t have anything that I’m watching.”
In her barley report 27 January video update, Becca explains that the first rains in Israel came early this year, giving enough rain for an ‘early flush’ of barley. Israel then went into a protracted dry season. Because of the stressed conditions, this early flush of barley began producing heads for survival purposes. However, there was not enough of mature aviv barley to make an omer. Currently, “a protracted season of excessive rains and cold weather” has returned to Israel and this weather system is expected to continue for at least the week ahead. This means that barley will no longer be forced to produce grain heads out of stressed conditions, but will now have the opportunity to grow taller and healthier, leading to a healthier grain. In other words, the barley is expected to enter a longer growing stage before entering the aviv stage.
As of 27 January 2024, we have not received any reports of an omer-quantitiy of aviv barley ready in the land of Israel necessary for a declaration of Rosh HaShanah at the next new moon. However, barley has a fast genestation period and things can change quickly in the land of Israel. And it is important to watch and be ready for Yahweh’s timing.
Becca stated that there are a couple other areas that she plans to inspect in the week ahead. Please check back to Torah Calendar News 2024 for future updates.
12 January
The new moon of the 12th Hebrew month was seen from the land of Israel on 12 January 2024 by the following witnesses:
Becca Biderman: 17:21
Rosh Chodesh sameach!
11 January
The firstfruits of barley have been seen in the land of Israel by barley searcher Becca Biderman on 11 January 2024. In her FirstBarley2024 video, Becca explains that these barley heads have just exited; the barley has not had much sunlight, has not begun to bloom yet, and is in a very early stage.
The next new moon is expected to be seen on 11 February 2024. Whether this new moon will mark the beginning of the new Hebrew year (Rosh HaShannah) or a 13th Hebrew month depends on the barley and Yahweh’s timing. (We must wait upon Yahweh to see when He declares His new year and feasts.) Please check back to Torah Calendar News 2024 for future updates.