NEW MOON REPORT FOR HESHVAN 2024 - Come, Enter the Mikvah

Greetings:

As of now in Israel – night time – no new moon was sighted from Jerusalem because by anyone – so by default, the 30^th day of Tishre begins tonight. Tomorrow night, October 4^th, will begin Heshvan 1 – 2024.

Devorah Gordon, a Karaite Jew that goes by the Bible, living in Jerusalem did not expect to see the new moon visibly tonight – something about low visibility. Anyway, she’s a pro at this. I remember I and my son and daughter-in-law being with Devorah one night in Jerusalem to observe the new moon. It’s really awesome to go by the ancient paths. How did Enoch, Noah, Abraham, etc. determine the days and months? By the cycles of the moon – just like we do now. Jeremiah 6:16!

Here is some good information from Devorah I pass onto you:

“For those that asked, it’s our understanding, that the Biblical Calendar is to be set according to the signs (Gen 1:14) in Israel (Dt 6:1, Dt 11:8-9, Dt 30:11-14). Therefore, if one is currently living abroad, it’s generally recommended to use Israel as an International Date Line. In other words, once the New Moon is sighted in Israel, they would begin the Biblical Month when evening starts in their part of the world (the Biblical Month must always begin in Israel first). Remember, although we’re told to keep the commandments wherever we may live, the moadim (appointed times) are set holy days (Lev 23:4), based on the timings in The Land.”

The Samaritans in Israel also go by the lunar calendar. I was in the home of a Samaritan family one year, in the area of north central Israel during Sukkot. That was a fascinating experience. There are so few left of this ancient tribal group. They had their house fixed up with a sukkah inside– with the ceiling fully decorated. They go by the Bible’s ancient ways in a lot of ways.

Yes, Israel will be our eternal homeland during the thousand-year reign of Messiah – a very expanded Israel as Ezekiel 47-48 tell us. The U.K. set the boundaries of the “now” Israel. So, you’ll get to see a lot of new moons.

Here is some more information by Devorah I’ll pass on to you.

“Dear friends: “Another month has flown by, and we just want to let you

know that our faithful team of observers are planning on looking for the upcoming New Moon, this coming Thursday evening, 3 October 2024.

For those that may be interested, the moon’s stats will be extremely low that evening. In fact, the probability of us being able to sight the moon with the naked eye will be -0.8, which means that it’s considered impossible. It takes an average of 29.53 days for the moon to complete its lunation (from our perspective on Earth), this means that a lunar month is never more than 30 days. In other words, if we don’t see the moon that evening, the beginning of the Biblical Month will be the following evening by default.” [This kind of extrapolation may explain how David knew the following day would be Rosh Chodesh (New Moon Day) (I Samuel 20:4-6)]

I Samuel 20:4-6: 4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you desire, I will do for you.” 5So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I am supposed to dine with the king. Instead, let me go and hide in the field until the third evening from now. 6If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David urgently requested my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because there is an annual sacrifice for his whole clan.’…

(This is proof that the sighting of the new moon was the norm by King David and those under his reign in Israel, for determining months and season)

“We look for the New Moon each month, because the light of the crescent is the sign that the month has begun (Gen 1:14, Ps 104:19). That’s why the Hebrew word for month is “chodesh”, whose root means “new”, as the moon is seen anew at the beginning of the month (Psalm 81:4[3]; Ezekiel 46:1). And the Biblical Calendar is to be kept according to the signs in the Land of Israel, regardless of where you may live, as the timings of the Biblical Calendar are intrinsically connected to The Land.

We don’t use computer programs to tell us where to look, or optical aids to spot, or confirm our sightings. We simply look for the New Moon the way we believe the ancient Israelites would have done. If you are in Israel, and successfully sight the New Moon with your naked eye (corrective lenses are permissible), we would appreciate it if you could please complete this short form, as your observation maybe the one that determines when we are supposed to begin the month.”

Thank you Devorah; thank you all who love the ancient paths,

Shalom, Yedidah – October 3, 2024