When Does The New Year Begin?

Hi Bro. Fred & Sis. Elizabeth

Thanks for the forward from Brian Allen. I do appreciate his ministry and receive and read his mailouts. Brian and I see alike on many issues, but I differ with him on 2 timing questions. In my opinion, and without any hard feelings whatsoever, I would say that his views on the beginning of the year and on when Passover should be celebrated on the 14th day are incorrect.

Regarding the timing of the Passover service, see Fred Coulter's excellent book "The Christian Passover".

Regarding the beginning of the year, go to www.karaite-korner.org and under the CALENDAR section look at the "Abib (Barley)" and "Abib FAQ" entries for comment on all the points you raised and many more. There is no scripture to support the new moon after the vernal equinox as the beginning of the year, but rather this deduction is something arrived at in conjunction with astrological/astronomical disciplines which have no connection to divine instruction. Divine instruction ("sola scriptura", if you please) is found in Exodus 23:15, 34:18 and Deuteronomy 16:1, where the Almighty Yahuah says to observe Passover and Unleavened Bread in the month of Abib.

Common sense is in complete harmony with inspiration also, as you would expect. Beginning the year with the month of Abib would always ensure suitable barley for the wavesheaf offering: beginning the year with the first new moon after the vernal equinox could conceivably have left the Israelites without suitable barley for the wavesheaf offering when the 14th day of the so-called "first" month arrived, creating an unworkable scenario in the temple worship periods of Israel's history. If the equinox calculation method were used this year, for example, ripe barley would sit in the field for 1 month while the birds destroyed the crop, because the barley harvest couldn't begin until the wavesheaf was offered.

If you have more questions on the beginning of the year, you could correspond with Bro. Steve and/or Bro. Yoseph, and you could also visit Michael Rood's website.

Shalom, and of course the invitation to our holy day convocation is open.

Ron Buhler