1st Renewed Moon of 2026-2027 (March/April 2026)

Several video reports have surfaced showing areas of barley that have now reached advanced stages of development in the land of Israel, including some that may qualify as aviv. While these findings are valuable, it is important to distinguish not only what is found, but when it is confirmed. As a result, some groups have retroactively declared the previous renewed moon (February 18) as the beginning of the month of Aviv, based on barley discovered or confirmed after that date. This approach relies on the idea that if barley becomes harvestable shortly after the new moon—or would have been ready by the time of the Wave Sheaf—then the month should be considered Aviv. However, this introduces uncertainty and inconsistency, as it allows the calendar to be adjusted based on later developments rather than on observable conditions present at the time of the renewed moon.

For consistency and biblical integrity, aviv barley should be evaluated based on three primary characteristics present at the time of the renewed moon crescent:

• It is brittle enough to be destroyed by hail and has begun to lighten in color (i.e., it is not "dark green") [Exod. 9:22, 31–32]
• The seeds have produced enough dry material so that they can be immediately eaten parched (without requiring additional drying) [Lev. 2:14]
• The field is natural and contains a sufficient quantity of aviv (a clear majority), indicating it would be fully harvestable (karmel) within a few weeks, and that surrounding fields would likewise have reached at least a minimal stage of aviv by Passover in sufficient quantities [Lev. 23:10; Deut. 16:9; Josh. 5:10–12]

These criteria, drawn from the biblical text, ensure the barley is not only individually mature, but also regionally representative and practically harvestable within the required timeframe. One notable recent finding comes from Rivkeh Biderman, who documented a field a reasonable distance from the roadside that appeared to be approximately 90–95% aviv, with consistent growth throughout. This representes the strongest evidence thus far of qualifying barley in a natural setting. At the same time, this finding was confirmed after the previous renewed moon and therefore cannot establish that such conditions were present or verifiable at the required time—namely, at the start of the twelfth month. It does, however, support the expectation that the upcoming renewed moon will mark the beginning of the biblical month of Aviv. An additional report of aviv barley has been published by AbibofGod.com

Some point to Deut. 16:9, which instructs counting “from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain,” as evidence that harvesting cannot begin until after the Wave Sheaf. However, this interpretation imposes a restriction the text does not state. Rather, the passage identifies the onset of the harvest period, not a prohibition against earlier harvesting—unlike the clear instruction forbidding eating the new grain prior to this offering (Lev. 23:14). In practice, once grain is ripe, it is harvested. The Wave Sheaf offering sanctifies the firstfruits; it does not delay harvesting. Accordingly, the people would have already begun harvesting and brought produce with them to the feast, making it possible to present and eat from the new grain at the appointed time.

It is also important to recognize that isolated “hot spots”—such as barley along roadsides or in disturbed soil—can mature earlier due to localized conditions and do not reflect the broader state of the land—just as reliance on telescopes to identify the renewed moon does not reflect the intended observational standard. Additionally, fewer groups appear to be conducting widespread barley searches at this time. Whether due to shifting expectations or current dangers in the region, the reduced volume of reports makes it more difficult to form a complete assessment. The biblical model assumes that by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, harvest has already begun across the land, enabling the people to bring and eat produce following the Wave Sheaf. This would not be feasible if barley were not harvestable at the start of the month. Accordingly, one cannot have a 14th day of the renewed moon of aviv unless there was first a verifiable 1st day of the renewed moon of aviv.

Based on the available information, while some barley has reached qualifying stages, this was not clearly verifiable at the time of the previous renewed moon and weighs against such a conclusion. We therefore recognize the prior month as the twelfth month and look to the upcoming renewed moon as the beginning of Aviv. If additional verified reports become available, we will make that information available here.