AVIV FOUND!

[Jody]

Shalom, For those who have been watching and waiting, the barley was found Aviv. So today is the first day of first month, with Passover being aprox two weeks away. Better get busy using up all that leaven and getting it cleaned out of the silverware drawers and toasters!! LOL. This is where "spring cleaning" originated.

Aviv Found!

On Thursday March 26, 2009 we found Aviv Barley in two fields in the Jordan
Valley, several kilometers south of Beth Shean. Samplings from these plots of
barley were between 70% and 90% Aviv or beyond. Much of the barley we found had
ripened past the stage of Aviv. Based on this there will definitely be
sufficient quantities of barley that will be harvest-ready in two weeks time.
Therefore, the upcoming new moon this Friday night will begin the Month of the
Aviv and the new biblical year.

Chag HaMatzot (the Feast of Unleavened Bread) will begin on April 10 at sunset
and continue until April 17 at sunset.

Photographs of this year's Aviv taken by CB Newman are posted at:
http://www.karaite-korner.org/aviv/2009/

The following people participated in today's Aviv Search:
Nehemia Gordon, Ruthanne Koch, Devorah Gordon, Dina Marcus, Daniel Pitrone,
Baruch ben Hosea, Adam Kinghorn, Bruce Brill, Larry Moldaur, Valerie Knowles,
Miri Burgin, C. B. Newman, and Randy Boer.

We will examine the barley in the northern Negev tomorrow. However, our findings
so far are adequate to determine that the upcoming new moon will begin the new
biblical year.

Nehemia Gordon
and Ruthanne Koch

More Aviv Found

On Friday March 27, 2009 we found more Aviv, this time in the northern Negev on
road 242 south of Gama junction. This confirms our findings yesterday that the
upcoming month is the Month of the Aviv.

Shanah Tovah!
Happy New Year!

Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel

[Jody]

New Moon Report
March 2009
First Biblical Month
Part 2

We received reports from observers who sighted the new moon on Friday night,
March 27, 2009 (many of them do not use phones on Shabbat, hence the delay). The
new moon was sighted:
*from Ashdod by Eli Shamuel and Magdi Shamuel at 19:24;
*from Maale Adumim by Akiva Hoffman at 19:12;
*from Efrat by Daniel Jackson at 19:25;
*from Beersheva by Yaron Laluz (time not recorded).

This confirms that the biblical month began on Friday night March 27 and that
the Feast of Unleavened Bread will commence on Friday night April 10.

Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel

[Randy Mitchwell]

The concern I have with this method is the lack of authority behind it. Nehemia Gordon may be a noted scholar and Abib expert, but who is he to Israel? He has confessed he is not a believer in Yeshua and yet many follow his calendar. He has no respect for the Jewish rabbis and sages whose writings often point to Yeshua, although they do not yet realize it.
If there was a central authority as in Temple times, ie. a priesthood, then they would be responsible for determining when the barley is Abib, but because we don't have the priesthood many have been duped into following an unbeliever who takes this priestly authority upon himself! Personally, I follow the calendar of Rabbi Hillel II, who developed a calendar to create unity between the dispersed Jews all over the world and whose accuracy, according to the lunar calendar is over 95%. The whole point of observance is not for us to say "The Jews are wrong and we are right!" but to remember the past exploits of our G-d and rehearse for the future exploits of our G-d! Without a Temple, no one can observe any of the feasts as commanded by the Torah, ie. sacrifices, etc., so the point is not how much better one can beat the Jews at their own religion. What pride and arrogance! Remember and Rehearse in unity with G-d's people the Jews.
I know some will say the month is determined by the new moon, but there is also disagreement about what a "new moon" is. Then we are back to determining who is the authority on "seeing the new moon". Is it me, here in Washington State? Or is it you in Israel? Someone I don't know. Can I trust my obedience to you? What if it's cloudy there? Does that cause the month to wait? Anyone see any problems here? Everyone will have a different Holy Day!

Berachot,
Randy

[Jody]

"Personally, I follow the calendar of Rabbi Hillel II, who developed a calendar to create unity between the dispersed Jews all over the world and whose accuracy, according to the lunar calendar is over 95%. The whole point of observance is not for us to say "The Jews are wrong and we are right!" but to remember the past exploits of our G-d and rehearse for the future exploits of our G-d! Without a Temple, no one can observe any of the feasts as commanded by the Torah, ie. sacrifices, etc., so the point is not how much better one can beat the Jews at their own religion. What pride and arrogance! Remember and Rehearse in unity with G-d's people the Jews.
I know some will say the month is determined by the new moon, but there is also disagreement about what a "new moon" is. Then we are back to determining who is the authority on "seeing the new moon". Is it me, here in Washington State? Or is it you in Israel? Someone I don't know. Can I trust my obedience to you? What if it's cloudy there? Does that cause the month to wait? Anyone see any problems here? Everyone will have a different Holy Day!"
Shalom, My Randy, I don't see anyone saying "The Jews are wrong and we are right!" And we can observe the Feasts of YHVH even without a temple. There are portions we may not be able to observe without the temple, but "the Jews" have been keeping the Feasts for centuries without a temple! I don't know anyone who is trying to "beat the Jews at their own religion."
It would appear to me from reading your post that you have quite a chip on your shoulder. Your comments smack of xtianity where if we can't do something exactly then why do any? I personally would not call Karaite Jews "unbelievers". And how are they any different than mainstream Judaism in that respect?
We can with accuracy know when the new moon is. YHVH's cycles are accurate. The new moon is the time from which the moon ceases waning and begins waxing. The first cresent of the moon is the signal that the renewal is finished and the moon has waxed to the point it is visible to the eye. This time can be affected by weather, but no where in Scripture does it state that one is to "sight" the moon. This is simply a common practice or tradition.
As far as quoting the site for the AVIV being found. This is only one site of many who all agree. And since the Hillel calendar of Rabbinic tradition is inaccurate (according to you) 5% of the time, why would you want to follow it? The calendar had it's place when the Jews were not able to go by YHVH's signs in the Land, but now that they are, it is no longer needed and out of date.No one is setting Nehemiah up as an authority. He is simply attached to one of the groups who are trying to get back to YHVH's reckoning of time.
On a personal note, there is a group of people in our area of Washington state who are doing our best to follow YHVH's instructions of time keeping. And no, we do not all understand this timing completely together. But we gather and fellowship, and discuss, apply and search for the truth. Which I believe is much better than throwing our hands in the air and saying, "it can't be done, so we might as well let a man tell us what and when." I call that "man-dating" I would rather let YHVH be in control instead of some man. It is YHVH's calendar, YHVH's creation, and it is YHVH's Feasts. Just as you said, "Someone I don't know. Can I trust my obedience to you?" Do you see any problems here?

[Jody]

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!! Today being the last day of Unleavened bread, I am wishing you blessings. I hope everyone learned new truths this Pesach! We are having a gathering tomorrow, the weekly Sabbath after Unleavened bread. There are some who fellowship with us, (one family) who will be celebrating the last day of the Feast on that day so out of love and respect there will be no leaven. We all met last Friday on the first day of the Feast and had a wonderful day of dancing, study and shared meal. I hope everyone has been blessed as we have. Shalom