Starting off, I would be remiss if I did not connect this update with my last post entitled “Why I Keep the Torah (Observational) Calendar and not the Other Popular Messianic Calendars.” In that post, I gave five reasons why I keep the Torah (Observational) Calendar. But more so, I provided an overview of how the operational calendar actually works, especially from the perspective of Rosh Hashanah or the Head of the Biblical New Year. If you’ve not had the opportunity to read that post, I would humbly encourage you to read that post, which I believe will bring you up to speed as to what I’m going to be talking about in this and in future updates on the Biblical Rosh Hashanah 2022.
What’s at Stake
As I noted in the aforementioned post, this week is a critical period for those of us who follow and keep the Torah (Observational) Calendar. Reason being, this is the last week of the 12th biblical month that Judaism refers to as the Month of Adar. And depending on the biblical observational criteria being met will determine whether we enter into a 13th month (or an Adar Bet in Jewish circles) or into Rosh Hashanah, the head of the biblical new year.
So, a lot is riding on what the searchers find.
Latest Findings by the Searchers
As of this writing beloved, the searchers in the Land of Yisra’el have found fields of wild, immature barley that is a few weeks from reaching the aviv state of maturation. Now, I consult a couple sources for information on the state of the barley crop (i.e., Nazarene Israel and Devorah Tree), and both agree with the barley crop being quite immature at this point. However, one of the sources suggests that there will be sufficient aviv barley in which to gather an omer suitable enough for the Day of the Wavesheaf Offering (aka Yom HaNafat HaOmer) which takes place annually during the week of Unleavened Bread (aka Chag HaMatzot). (Lev. 23)
My second source concludes that there will not be enough “harvestable” aviv barley for the Yom HaNafat HaOmer, as the present state of the barley crop is too immature.
But we’re not finished.
This being the 29th day of the biblical calendar month, we’ve just received word that the renewed moon was not sighted over the Land of Yisra’el this evening due to atmospheric conditions.
So What’s the Bottom Line
Well, taking these two opinions about the state of the barley crop into consideration, and the failure by searchers to sight the renewed moon over the Land of Yisra’el, it falls to each of us who keep the Torah (Observational) Calendar to decide whether to proceed with calling the arrival of Rosh Hashanah at sundown on Fr-day, 3/4/2022, or calling the start of the 13th month (aka Adar Bet) on that same day. (Note: Since there is no operating Sanhedrin to make this decision, it falls to each of us to decide how to proceed with the calendar at this point.)
As for us, we believe the barley is too immature and will be in insufficient amounts for the Day of the Wavesheaf Offering if we were to call Rosh Hashanah tomorrow evening. Therefore, we will honor and receive the 13th Rosh Chodesh at sundown, Fr-day, 3/4/2022.
We pray, which ever calendar you are led to keep, that you have a blessed 13th month, or for that matter, Rosh Hashanah.
Faithfully