Biblical Leap Years
The Biblical year begins with the first New Moon after the barley in Israel reaches the stage in its ripeness called Aviv. The period between one year and the next is either 12 or 13 lunar months. Because of this, it is important to check the state of the Barley crops at the end of the 12th month. If the barley is Aviv at this time, then the following New Moon is Hodesh Ha-Aviv ("New Moon of the Aviv"). If the barley is still immature, we must wait another month and then check the barley again at the end of the 13th month. Continue reading
I went down to examine the barley in the Jordan Valley today (Friday Feb 27, 2015). I was thought I might find barley in the vegetative state (like grass) after the snow and hail. Instead, I found barley in the flowering stage. This means there's a very good chance that the barley will be Aviv by the end of the 12th Hebrew month. This would make the new moon on Saturday March 21 the beginning of the Hebrew year. Here's a discussion I carried out in the field with Devorah Gordon about the Aviv in general and this year in particular. -Nehemia 