On Saturday April 9, 2016 the new moon was sighted from Israel.
Sighted by: Nehemia Gordon, Devorah Gordon, Yoel Halevi, Rebecca Biderman, Bruce Brill and Seth Kaufman.
Time Sighted: 6:46 pm Jerusalem, Israel Time
Month: This is the First Biblical Hebrew Month, also known as Aviv or (Nissan)
From Nehemia: After a flurry of post-Shabbat phone calls, we have not found anyone who succeeded in sighting the new moon from Israel on Friday April 8, 2016. Unless we hear otherwise, the moon sighted from Israel on Saturday April 9, 2016 is Chodesh Ha-Aviv, the New Moon of the Aviv, the beginning of the First Hebrew Month.
Shana Tova!
Happy New Year! 🙂
Brother Mark Harris
.
8 comments
Skip to comment form
Was the moon’s size on April 9th, 2016 the very beginning sliver/crescent or was it a bit bigger than that and might have actually been able to be sighted from the ground had it not been for the hazy sky? Has the “new moon” sightings ever been closer to a quarter moon size due to inability to see the moon because of weather conditions a day(s) earlier? Does the term “new” mean seeing it again after not seeing it for a day or more closer to the crescent stage/size?
If you would answer any of the above questions I would appreciate that.
Author
The Moon must be sighted on the 29th day in order for the verdict to be official that the New Month has started. If the new moon is not sighted on the 29th day of the month because of haze or other conditions, then the moon must be looked for the next day. The Month by default cannot go past 30 days, therefore, even if the moon was not sighted on the 30th day, the New Moon is still declared. This sometimes makes the moon slightly larger than the first possible visibility… Also, keep in mind that the New Moon can be sighted here in the US slightly earlier than in Israel, but in order to keep unity with all the nations, and be on the same page with where YHWH places His name, where our Messiah kept the feast, and where He will be keeping it in the future, we go by Israel Sightings as the official sighting and then keep that days is it comes to us. I hope this answers your question! Shalom 🙂
If somebody would not mind, how to count to this Feast of Oaths?
Author
The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost/Shavuot) is counted starting from the the time of the Wave Sheaf Offering which was to be done at sunset on Shabbat (marrow after the Sabbtah).
This was done the Marrow after the Sabbath that follows Passover. So at Sunset on Saturday (Shabbat) during the week of unleavened Bread. You then count 7 Weeks/Sabbaths and the Holy day is kept on the 50th day which will land on a Sunday. I hope this answers your question. Shalom
I’m confused. Nehemia’s site states Pesach will begin at sundown 23 APR 2016. Which date is correct?
http://www.nehemiaswall.com/when-is-passover
Author
The 14th day of the first Month was on Saturday April 23rd which began at sunset on April 22. I believe he was referring to the time the Passover meal is usually eaten and the Week of Unleavened Bread is referred to as “Passover” in Jewish Circles.
Happy New year!!!! שלם
Shalam
Shalom, Brother Mark Harris and family,
May this new year be filled with blessings, joy and power from our Heavenly Father. HalleluYah!