Hanoch Young Visits Virginia

We hosted a Mr. Hanoch Young the monday before Thanksgiving back in November of 2014. It was such an honor.  We had such a great time and we truly feel blessed to have met him and visit with him for the short period of time we had.

He spoke based on the scripture "In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel..."   Jeremiah 3:18

      

"Are you one of those people who are inspired by the Prophets? Do you feel drawn to Israel? Feel a sense of kinship with the Jewish people? Did you ever feel that maybe YOU are supposed to be one of the 'Watchmen on the Walls?" Have you ever wondered, WHY? Come hear Hanoch Young, direct from Israel who will be teaching about the Restoration of ALL of Israel - the promised reunification of Judah and Ephraim!

He is an Orthodox Jew and a former New Yorker, has been intensively studying and teaching about the return of ALL the tribes of Israel for twenty years. Having made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) in 2009, all of his energy has been focused on outreach to those who have been led to feel that they, too are part of Israel. Having become a licensed Israeli Tour Guide to be better prepared to help returning Ephraim and all Bible Believers become reacquainted with Israel, Hanoch has been building bridges with Ephraimtes and Christians throughout the world.

He travels periodically to the United States, he has been bringing a message of activism, mutual respect and inclusion, all based upon the teachings of the prophets on the reunification of ALL of Israel - the single most dominant theme in all the prophetic teachings. Hanoch's exciting, dynamic style, combined with his background and education in addition to his caring and warmth make him a unique messenger from Israel. Coming from Modi'in - the ancient home of the Maccabees, Hanoch is bringing his call for a Revolution for the Restoration to our town."

It was really interesting we had some people who didn't want to come because he is Jewish and feel he would be pushing the whole "judaism" on us.  But they missed out!  Because he recognizes us as Ephraim and meets us where we are.  

If you get the chance to host Mr. Young we highly recommend it.  Please take a look at his website Kolyehuda. 

~Blessings!!!

Israel Inspired-Can Christians Observe Torah?

Take a listen to the broadcast - starting at 12:45 - let me know what you think.

One thing that stands out to me is how these radio hosts understand that there's a difference between Christians observing Torah and essentially practicing first century Christianity, and Christians practicing Judaism and pretending to be Jews. And they're not offended by the former.

Sound Cloud Voice of Israel Israel Inspired- Can Christians Observe Torah?

~Blessings

New Moon Not Sighted 11/23/14

The New Moon was not sighted due to being concealed by clouds.  Here is a link to Nehemiah Gordon's post explaining the 9th new moon begins Monday night November 24, 21014.  

Photo by Rebekah Bibb

Blessings!!!

Maturing - It's Not So Bad After All

I think I have finally come to the conculsioin that maturing in my forties isn't so bad.  Here's just a few of the plus(s) as I contemplate my life on this Shabbat:

- I enjoy taking naps on Shabbat
- I realize I am not as concerned about what other people may think
- I enjoy the small things in life; like watching birds play in the backyard, squirrels eating off a corn cob, and beautiful flowers starting to bloom
- I like taking deep breaths and 'taking it all in' and am not as concerned about everything in life like I used to be
- I look at the gray hairs in my beard or on the side of my head and say to myself, 'man that looks good, looks like 'wisdom' is finally coming in'
- I enjoy the family time more then ever before, like sitting around a fire pit eating smores with a chill in the air and warmth by fire all at the same time
- I am thankful and feel immensely blessed where I am in my life and career, and while I want to go further and do more, I realize that the 24x7 chaos of trying to get there isn't all that's cracked up to be
- And yes, I tear up once in a while as I watch my teenagers, reminiscing about when they were just babies and holding them or playing games or reading books
- And most of all..........I realize my teenagers will be adults one day, have their own kids and life, and may go through similar situations me and Mrs P. went through, then I sit back, get a big smile on my face and say 'baaaahahahahahahahahahah'.

Yes folks, being in your early forties isn't so bad after all.  Remember, work hard, play hard, and most of all give the glory to our Father YEHOVAH in all things.

Shalom!!!

The Joy of Believing

Since I haven't blogged about anything in quite some time, I thought why not on this beautiful Shabbat day.

I read a posting this morning that Hebrew Roots and Messianic believers can many times take the joy out of being a believer.  I can somewhat relate to that because it seems many posts on various media outlets only pertain to negativity and division between YEHOVAH's two groups of believers.  Instead of relishing in the fact that we have many people, all on the same road trying to serve and learn about the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we instead criticize and belittle........every.......little........thing someone does or does not do.

It seems many believers become so arrogant in what they've learned, that everyone else has to conform to their standard or else we just don't measure up.  Instead of growing together, someone ends up creating their own doctrine (probably unintentional but it happens) others need to conform too.  No wonder there are so some many 'doctrines' in the first place.

So today my friends, whoever and wherever you are, I would ask you to let the joy of believing fill your heart, find peace in yourself and your HIS belief system, learn to work next to and discuss issues of doctrines as adults (please as adults not as kindergarteners) with open hearts and minds so we can all grow and learn.  Remember, our Father says 'iron sharpens iron', not 'this iron is sharper then yours so if you don't conform to these 11 minute principles I will cut you down'.

YEHOVAH's words, HIS son and his covenant with us is so beautiful, so engaging and poetic, that don't we owe it to HIM to be kind and loving to our brothers and sisters no matter where they are in their walk.  I believe we do.  Find the joy again in Father, let HIM reign down Glory and Mercy in your life, relish in what YESHUA did on the cross and be the light we are called to be; not by saying it, but by living a friendly, joy filled life helping each brother and sister along.

Shabbat Shalom

Photos of Israel~ Beautiful

To see all fifteen photos click here.

Blessings!!!

New Moon Sighted! 3/31/14

New moon sighted in Israel! Tonight at sundown will be the first day of the first biblical month and the 14th day is Passover. The 15th day is the first day of unleavened bread until the 21st day which is the 7th day of unleavened bread. Time get prepared for some cleaning of homes and buy/make some matzah! I love this time of the year.  





Shalom,

This has been a very interesting sighting. For some reason I, as far as we know, was the only one who could sight the moon. I sighted from the north of Israel near Kiryat Ata at 7:24pm with binoculars, and then at 7:25pm with the naked eye. It was very difficult to see, but fortunately I was also able to take photos. The Photos are the raw image, meaning no enhancement was done. The moon is above the electrical tower to the left. The moon was visible till 7:36-7pm and then vanished in the haze.

Yoel


 

~ from Yoel of Hebrew in Israel

Update at 4pm today!

Just got word that there is a second witness. This makes two of us, soooo- SHANAH TOVAH.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר. הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם, רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים: רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם, לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה
YHWH said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year"

Blessings!!!

Update! Nehemia Gordon Is In Israel to Observe the Month of Aviv and Sight The New Moon!

This is from Nehemia's Facebook page:

• The barley in the Jordan Valley and Ein Mabua is Aviv. Phase 1 complete! Now phase 2: attempt New Moon Sighting on March 31.

Why did he decide to go to Israel?

A post from March 22, 2014.

WWDD: What Would David Do?

On March 2, 2014 the barley was not Aviv in the Land of Israel. As a result, the Feast of Unleavened Bread (commonly called "Passover") will be in mid-April, on the 15th day of the First Hebrew Month. But when exactly is the 15th Day of the First Hebrew Month in the Biblical calendar this year? This is where things get a little complicated. I have mentioned in the past two systems for beginning the Hebrew month: "Potential Visibility" and "Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum". I talked about this years ago in this newsletter:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/karaite_korner_news/conversations/topics/73

In a nutshell, Potential Visibility means beginning the Hebrew month when the moon "should be" visible even if it is not sighted due to clouds. This past new moon was a great example of Potential Visibility. The moon SHOULD HAVE BEEN easily visible from Israel on Sunday March 2, 2014. However, there was a thick haze over Israel that night and therefore no one sighted the moon that evening. Based on Potential Visibility, the Thirteenth Hebrew Month began on March 2, even though no one saw it. In contrast, according to Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum, the month began on Monday March 3 by default. I should point out that the haze lasted for a few days, so no one saw the moon on March 3 either. Let me summarize the two results:

Thirteenth Hebrew Month
Potential Visibility: March 2, 2014 (no sighting due to haze)
Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum: March 3, 2014 (by default)

Potential Visibility has a major limitation, specifically in certain months when it is impossible to predict that a moon will be "easily visible" based on the most advance science. This usually happens once or twice a year, although only rarely does that affect the feast days. In the rare occurrences that "Potential Visibility" encounters a new moon that can't be calculated, it reverts to "Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum." For example, the new moon for Yom Teruah in 2012 could not be predicted using even the most advanced calculations known to science. On that occasion, Keith Johnson and I traveled to southern Israel where we sighted the new moon from a mountaintop northwest of Eilat. Had no one sighted the moon that evening, the festival of Yom Teruah would have been the following evening based on both "Potential Visibility" and "Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum."

I have personally vacillated between these two systems over the years. "Potential Visibility" has the advantage of convenience. It also resonates to the modern scientific way of thinking. The problem is when I ask myself WWDD: "What Would David Do?" It just so happens the Tanakh records the answer to that question in 1 Samuel, Chapter 20. Back then, the future-king of Israel was afraid of King Saul, who he was convinced wanted him dead. King Saul's son, Jonathan, was David's BFF ("best friend forever," for you old folks). David decided to test King Saul by seeing how he would react to David's absence from a royal feast scheduled to celebrate the New Moon. In this context, the Tanakh records the following conversation between David and Jonathan:

"And David said to Jonathan, 'Indeed tomorrow is the New Moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat. But let me go, that I may hide in the field until the third day at evening.'" 1 Samuel 20:5

When I read this story, I ask myself how David could have known that "tomorrow is the New Moon"? The natural explanation for most people who don't know history is that David used the calculations of the "Jewish Calendar." Those calculations determine the time of the conjunction of the Moon with the Earth and the Sun and they are the basis of the Hillel II calendar established in 359 CE and still used by most Jews today. Unfortunately, that would be an "anachronism." The mathematical values of that calendar were worked out by the Alexandrian Greek astronomer Ptolemy around 150 CE and later adopted by Hillel II around 359 CE. Both Ptolemy and Hillel II postdate David by more than 1,000 years.

As a side-note, Hillel II's calculations do not actually calculate conjunction, but rather "average conjunction," which could be off by as much as 12 hours from the true conjunction. The calculation of true conjunction was way beyond Hillel II's mathematical abilities or astronomical knowledge. For example, this month, Hillel II puts conjunction on March 31, 2014 at 3:53am, but true conjunction according to NASA is March 30 at 8:45pm (Jerusalem time = UT+2). That's an error of 7+ hours! Check the sources for yourself!

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/216238/jewish/Molad-Times.htm

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/phase/phases2001.html

Maimonides would later provide a more accurate calculation, which he adopted from the Muslim astronomer al-Batani... but I digress. The bottom line is that David could not have known the timing of the New Moon using a calculation worked out by a Greek astronomer 1,200 years after he was born. And even if David traveled in time and learned that calculation from Hillel II, he still would not know the time of true conjunction.

So how did David know that "tomorrow is the New Moon"? Anyone who observes the new moon for a couple of years will immediately see that every lunar month is either 29 or 30 days long. There is no such thing as a 28-day or 31-day lunar month. If the atmosphere is clear, the new moon will always be visible after either 29 or 30 days. There is no need to project Hillel II's calculations over 1,000 years back into the time of David. All David had to do was know that a lunar month can only be 29 or 30 days. The Hebrew language also clearly reflects this knowledge. A 30-day month is called a "full month" and a 29-day month is called "deficient month." There is no such thing as a 28-day or 31-day month in Hebrew terminology or thought. If the moon were not sighted after the 29th day, David could say with 100% certainty: "tomorrow is the new moon"! There was nothing unusual or extraordinary about this statement. Such a straightforward prediction could be made for about half the months in any given lunar year.

So What Would David Do? David would without doubt follow Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum! Obviously Potential Visibility is a product of the 20th Century. No question about it. We could argue that it is really a product of the 9th Century CE with some later fine-tuning. Either way, Potential Visibility could not have been known to King David anymore than he knew about airplanes or telephones.

What does all of this have to do with the timing of Passover this year? First of all, it is impossible even with the most advanced science to predict visibility this month. On March 31, 2014 the moon will have 1.01% illumination and 52 minutes of lagtime (the time between sunset and moonset). This is just enough to say the moon might be visible, but more likely might not be. We simply can't say with any certainty one way or another. So this month, no question about it, "Potential Visibility" must revert to "Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum."

Where things get really complicated is that last month no one sighted the new moon on the evening of March 2, when it should have been easily visible. As I mentioned above, there was haze all over Israel on Sunday March 2, 2014 making it impossible to sight the moon. If you follow Potential Visibility, the haze didn't matter; you began the month on March 2 anyway. If you follow "Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum," then you began the month on March 3 by default.

Those who accept Potential Visibility, can stop reading. Things are very simple. Well, relatively simple. Using Potential-Visibility-reverting-to-an-Actual-Visibility-with-30-Day-Maximum, here are the possible dates of the upcoming Feast:

If the new moon is sighted on March 31, 2014, the Feast of Unleavened Bread will be Sunset Monday April 14 through Sunset Monday April 21.

If the new moon is not sighted on March 31, 2014, the Feast of Unleavened Bread will be Sunset Tuesday April 15 through Sunset Tuesday April 22.

However... if you ask "What Would David Do?", then you must KEEP READING! Using Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum, the Thirteenth Hebrew Month began on March 3, 2014 (remember the haze). If we count 29 days, this month should end on either April 1 or April 2, depending on when the moon is sighted. The moon should be easily visible on April 1, unless there are clouds or haze. Israel gets regular dust storms this time of year, so a natural haze is entirely possible.

In David's time, this would not be complicated at all. They would look at the sky on April 1 and decide when to keep the feast based on what they saw or didn't see. Very simple, unless... witnesses sighted the moon on March 31! Then they would accept that the moon should have been visible on March 2, but was not sighted due to haze. This creates three possible dates for the Feast of Unleavened Bread this coming month:

Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum:
If the new moon is sighted on March 31, 2014, the Feast of Unleavened Bread will be Sunset Monday April 14 through Sunset Monday April 21.
If the new moon is sighted on April 1, 2014, the Feast of Unleavened Bread will be Sunset Tuesday April 15 through Sunset Tuesday April 22.
If the new moon is not sighted on March 31 or April 1, 2014, the Feast of Unleavened Bread will be Sunset Wednesday April 16 through Sunset Wednesday April 23.

Three thousand years ago, David would not have known that the moon might be visible on March 31, 2014. However, if witnesses sighted the new moon, he would have accepted their testimony knowing that there had been clouds on March 2. Incidentally, the Rabbinical dates of the Feast of Unleavened Bread this year are sunset April 14 through sunset April 21, based on the Hillel II calculations of 359 CE.

I have personally been following the Biblical calendar based on the sighting of the new moon in Israel since 1990 and am not aware of a previous situation like this. What all this means is that the observation on March 31 is super-important not to mention extremely difficult. Only a careful observation will determine when the Feast of Unleavened Bread will begin and this is true whether you are following Potential Visibility or Actual Visibility with 30 Day Maximum. If we are lazy and don't do our utmost to try and sight the moon on March 31, we might be in for a Heavenly April Fool's joke! It is truly humbling that with all our modern technology and science, we must still rely on the Creator of the universe to let us know His appointed times and holy feasts.

Update: After writing this letter, I read it over several times and prayed about it. I then came to the unequivocal conviction that I must get on an airplane and fly to Israel to try and sight this month's new moon. I called up Keith Johnson on his American cell phone only to discover that he was already in Israel waiting for the new moon sighting. There was my second witness! So on Sunday I am saying "Zàijiàn" to China and embarking on the excruciatingly long journey to Israel. I have stepped out on faith and told my Chinese employer that I am taking an unanticipated 2-week absence. The ticket was purchased earlier today with borrowed funds. Please consider supporting this "New Moon Mission to Israel 2014" through prayer and/or by making a tax-deductible donation to Makor Hebrew Foundation at:

http://www.NehemiasWall.com/

(on the right-hand side of the page where it says "New Moon Mission to Israel 2014")

Nehemia Gordon
The Wandering Jew Packing My Bags in Changsha, China

Shalom!!!

Yechayenu by Sandy Bruce

I would like to let you all know of a new teacher that my husband and I like to listen to.  His name is Sandy Bruce and I am sure you have seen some of his posts.  He now has a website that is up and running.  I have the link under Favorites to the bottom right.  He teaches the Scriptures from the Hebrew words of Moses     (Mosheh מֹשֶׁה ) and the Hebrew Prophets, and Yeshua יֵשׁוּעַ the Messiah and His Hebrew Sent Ones (sheh-lee-cheem שְּׁלִיחִים ; apostles ). This was taken from his Facebook page just so you can read a little about him and his mission.

Mission

The Revival of our people ( Teh-chee-aht Ah-may-noo תחיית עַמֵּנוּ )
began around 30 CE at the MOED ( moh-ayd מּוֹעֵד ; Appointed Time; "feast" )
of First Fruits ( Yom Bikkurim יום בכורים )

Company Overview

Teaching and Explaining the richness and depth of the Scriptures from the Hebrew words, these teachings reveal incredible mysteries and revelations of spiritual principles and spiritual truths, which are not found, not seen, and not understood, in any other language. These teachings stir and move people’s hearts to better learn and understand the nature and character of our Creator YHWH יְהוָה ELohim אֱלֹהִים and what He expects from us in a relationship with Him.

These teachings help change people’s lives in a dramatic way, as they motivate and encourage people to LEARN and OBEY the COMMANDMENTS of our Creator YHWH יְהוָה ELohim אֱלֹהִים , which is necessary to do for our SANCTIFICATION -- working out our salvation with fear and trembling ( Phil 2:12 ), in order to prepare ourselves to be the Bride of Messiah.

Description

Verses in the Hebrew Scriptures often contain FOUR levels of meaning and understanding. Passages in one part of the Scriptures are connected to passages in other parts through similar or related Hebrew words. Passages in the ReNewed Covenant writings are often not correctly, properly or fully understood, until we learn what those words mean in the Hebrew Scriptures.

General Information

Come, let us return to YHWH יְהוָה;
For He has torn us (in 70 CE), but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.

"HE WILL REVIVE US" ( Yechayenu יְחַיֵּנוּ )
after two days (two thousand years since Messiah);
He will raise us up on the third day
( Day 7 of Creation = Shabbat > Messianic Kingdom reign Messiah Yeshua - Son of David in Jerusalem 1,000 years )
That we may live before Him.

So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the former rain
( ka-ge-shem כַגֶּשֶׁם ),
Like the spring (latter) rain ( ki-mal-kosh כְּמַלְקוֹשׁ )
watering the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3)

לְכוּ וְנָשׁוּבָה אֶל-יְהוָה, כִּי הוּא טָרָף וְיִרְפָּאֵנוּ; יַךְ, וְיַחְבְּשֵׁנוּ.

יְחַיֵּנוּ, מִיֹּמָיִם; בַּיּוֹם, הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, יְקִמֵנוּ, וְנִחְיֶה לְפָנָיו.

וְנֵדְעָה נִרְדְּפָה, לָדַעַת אֶת-יְהוָה, כְּשַׁחַר, נָכוֹן מֹצָאוֹ;
וְיָבוֹא כַגֶּשֶׁם לָנוּ, כְּמַלְקוֹשׁ יוֹרֶה אָרֶץ.
( הוֹשֵׁעַ 6:1-3 )

He also has videos on PodOmatic and Vimeo.  He does not sell his teachings, which my husband and I love.  He has a true heart for Torah and it shows in his teachings.  Some of his teachings are:

• Two Trees - Two Spiritual Laws
• The Wedding of the Lamb and His Bride; Who is Who
• Rebekah-The Bride of Messiah
• Sukkot and Our Kidneys
• Become a Dedication
• And He Split

and many more! You can follow him on Facebook and his website is Yechayenu.  Enjoy!

Shalom!!!

Abib Search Update March 18, 2014

Aviv search update:

"we were down south today around tel al Hasi, tel Sera and tel Gamma.

Most of the wild barley I sampled was still in the Flower or water stage with the exception of barley around tel Gamma which is very close to being at the aviv stage. The domesticated wheat that I looked at was mostly in the early dough stage." ~Hebrew in Israel

Shalom!!!

No Abib Barley So Far

I apologize for not having been able to post.  Now that I am in school to learn about nutrition and lifestyle changes I have been super busy.  But back to the barley.   Nehemia Gordon is not able to search this year as he is in China teaching.   As of March 2nd there was no abib barley per Hebrew in Israel.  "It is official- there is no Aviv in Israel this year. I want to write a full report when I get home, but for now I can safely say it is a leap year."~Yoel  So what does this mean?  Add a month, Pesach and Chag HaMatsot in about 45 days.

This is another field that we checked, we also have an agricultural expert who joined us and is confirming our finds.

Re'im junction- not even close

Very early stage barley near Uzah, the seed is in flower stage.

Road 234 after Urim junction, still flower stage.
Shalom!!!

Sunrise in Jerusalem 1/15/14

Picture by Hebrew in Israel from Facebook