So far no one has sighted the new moon on Friday April 8, 2016.

 It should have been an easy sighting, but there was significant haze over Israel. We have reports of the moon NOT being sighted from Jerusalem, Kiryat Ata, Poriyya, Tiberias, and Arad. There are still other observers who need to report in. Some of these reports might not come in until Sunday, so at this point we have to wait to hear what people saw or didn’t see on Friday night.

Earlier today we went down to the Jordan Valley and found that the barley was Aviv. Much was already harvest ripe as expected based on what we saw a couple of weeks ago in the Northern Negev. If it turns out no one saw the new moon on April 8, 2016, then Passover (Unleavened Bread) will begin Saturday night April 23, 2016. If we receive reliable reports that the new moon was sighted on April 8, 2016, then Passover will begin Friday night April 22. We still need to wait to hear from other observers at this point.

The photo at the side is of the sun setting over Jerusalem, partially obscured by haze, on April 8, 2016.

source: Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel