My Last New
Moon Report
On
Sunday Oct 2, 2016, the new moon
of Yom Teruah was sighted:
- from Jerusalem
(Rechavia) by Devorah Gordon
at 6:31pm followed by Nehemia
Gordon, Jabniah Ashley
Gonzalez, Cari Tarter, Dakota
Tarter, Gil Ashedorf, Levi
Tarter, and Harold Tarter.
- from Jerusalem (Gilo)
by Willie Ondricek at 6:35pm.
- from Kiryat Ata by Yoel Halevi
at 6:38pm.
- from Moshav Ranen by
Nili Lichaa at 6:50pm.
The
photo at the top of this message
shows the New Moon of Yom
Teruah looming large
over the Israel Museum in
Jerusalem at 7:02 pm. I was
so blessed to see the New Moon
of Yom Teruah tonight. It is one
of the most beautiful things I
have ever seen in my life!
As the title of this message
indicates, this will be my last
Aviv New Moon Report. After
extensive fasting and prayer, I
have decided to cease my public
involvement in the Biblical Aviv
New Moon Calendar, so that I can
focus time and energy on other
areas of my ministry.
I have been involved with the
Biblical Calendar in one way or
another since the 1980s,
sighting new moons in Israel
since 1993, and sending out new
moon reports since
1995. When I first got
involved in sighting new moons
and looking for the Aviv Barley,
I was only doing it for myself
and the handful of Karaite Jews
who participated with me in the
endeavor. Over the years, people
of other faiths and persuasions
took interest and I welcomed
anyone who wanted to
respectfully participate in
discovering God's holy
times.
During Second Temple times, the
Sanhedrin lit signal fires to
inform the Jews of the
Diaspora that the New Moon
was sighted in Israel. In the
late 1990s, I came to see my
role of sending out New Moon and
Aviv reports as lighting the
signal fires from Israel. I am
honored that God chose me to do
this for a period of time in
history. In the Torah, it says
that the Levites were counted
for 20 years of service in the
Tabernacle. My 20+ years of
service in God's calendar has
come to an end for now. Please
respect the decision I have
made, based on the answer I
believe God gave me.
I prayed to Yehovah about who
would take over the task. The
answer that came to me was
Abraham hiking up to Mount
Moriah with Isaac. When asked
where the lamb was, Abraham
responded, "God will provide for
Himself a lamb." I pray God
sends His Messiah soon to
restore the Temple and bring
peace to the entire world!
Yom Teruah Sameach! Happy Day of
Shouting!
Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel
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