"...at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets" - Numbers 10:10
The fourth new moon crescent of the Aviv year was first spotted in Durban, South Africa on Sunday evening, June 9th. Additional reports came in from Oklahoma and Texas and points westward (many points along the east cost were too cloudy). Israel-based observers first reported the moon the following evening, June 10th.
Confirmed: South Africa
Map from the Astronomical Data Portal (UK Hydrographic Office) @ moonwatch.org
Confirmed
Map from the Astronomical Data Portal (UK Hydrographic Office) @ moonwatch.org
...The Following Crescent Moon (5th Month):
The following new moon crescent will be the 5th and will be seen in most regions, starting with Australia, on Tuesday evening, July 9th. Those restricted to Israel observation, however, will likely not have reports until the following evening.
Map from the Astronomical Data Portal (UK Hydrographic Office) @ moonwatch.org
Map from the Astronomical Data Portal (UK Hydrographic Office) @ moonwatch.org
Expected Observation Dates of Biblical Festivals 2013:
All dates may vary based upon actual visual confirmation/trumpet call of the new crescent moon & availability of Aviv barley within the region of the Promised Land
For 2013, Aviv barley was found in early March (within Israel or the Fertile Crescent) with the first confirmed new moon crescent sighted in the region of Nigeria & Morocco on Tuesday evening, March 12th. Therefore, no intercalary 13th month was observed. This means the Annual Festival Dates will be expected as follows (all dates listed begin at sundown the evening before):
First Day of Biblical Year^# (Day 1 of Month 1): March 13, 2013 CONFIRMED
Passover/Pesach^ (Day 14 of Month 1): March 26, 2013 CONFIRMED
First Day of Unleavened Bread/Chag HaMatzot*^ (Day 15 of Month 1): March 27, 2013 CONFIRMED
Wave Sheaf/Omer Day# (1st day of the week during Unleavened Bread in Promised Land): March 31, 2013 CONFIRMED
Last Day of Unleavened Bread/Chag HaMatzot*^ (Day 21 of Month 1): April 2, 2013 CONFIRMED
Feast of Weeks/Counting of Omer (7 Weeks starting with Wave Sheaf Day): March 31 - May 18, 2013 CONFIRMED
Pentecost/Shavuot* (50th Day starting with Wave Sheaf Day): May 19, 2013 CONFIRMED
^ - Regions east of Nigeria (including Israel) will observe the following date (based on global trumpet call)
# Based on barley within Promised Land (Israel) region
* High Day of Convocation (no regular work)
Day of Trumpets/Yom Teruah** (Day 1 of Month 7): September 7, 2013
Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur** (Day 10 of Month 7): September 16, 2013
First Day of Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot** (Day 15 of Month 7): September 21, 2013
Last Day of Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot (Day 21 of Month 7): September 27, 2013
Last Great Day/Shemini Atzeret** (Day 22 of Month 7): September 28, 2013
* High Day of Convocation (no regular work)
** High Sabbath Convocation (Sabbath Day of rest)
If you would like to provide future reports, I welcome anyone to serve as witnesses to the sighting of the new moon crescent by submitting your sighting via e-mail. Together, as Yah's people, we can all be of one accord with the blowing of a trumpet to communicate to all of His people when the new moon has occurred (Numbers 10:10). We also attempt to post our own sightings and in a timely manner.
Global Observation:
Israel Observation:
