Month of Aviv
Month of Aviv/Nissan (1st month)
OBSERVING THE MONTH OF AVIV
Deuteronomy 16:1 [1] tells us to:
"Observe [2] the month of Aviv and keep [3] the Passover to Yehova [4] your God, for in the month of Aviv, Yehova your God brought you out of Egypt by night".
AVIV AND THE EXODUS
In Exodus 13:4 [5], Yehova says the Israelites will leave Egypt in the month of Aviv. Aviv is thereafter described several times as 'the month in which Yehova brought the Israelites out of Egypt' (see for example, Exodus 23:15 [6] and Exodus 34:18 [7]). Moreover, in Exodus 12:2 [8], we are told:
"This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year".
THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR?
If you're familiar with the Hebrew calendar, you'll know there is currently no month by the name of Aviv. There is a month called 'Av' - but that is the fifth month of the year [9]. The month of Aviv is supposed to be the first month of the Hebrew calendar, although the first month is currently called 'Nissan'. 'Nissan' is the name given to the first month of the year in the Book of Esther (3:7 [10]). In the year 2024, the month of 'Nissan' falls between 8th April and 7th May [11]
NISSAN AND AVIV
As such, it is recognised that 'Aviv' and 'Nissan' are both names found in scripture [12] and this is explained by some Jewish sources as meaning that the same month just has different names [13]. However, it is also recognised that 'Nissan' is a Babylonian name [14]. As the month based on the Exodus therefore, its name therefore gives us clues about the cycles of Jewish self-determination [15].
DO JEWS TODAY OBSERVE THE MONTH OF AVIV?
No. A noticeable issue is that modern Judaism currently commemorates 'the month of Elul'. Elul is the name given to the 6th month of the calendar.
As stated by (unaffiliated source) My Jewish Learning [16]:
"Although the month of Elul … which immediately precedes Rosh Hashanah - has no special importance in the Bible or in early rabbinic writings, various customs arose sometime during the first millennium that designated Elul as the time to prepare for the High Holy Days" [17].
Interestingly, although Jewish and Islamic holidays do not always coincide (because Islam uses a purely lunar calendar [18]), this year, the observance of the month of Ramadan [19] ends just as the observance of the 'Month of Aviv' begins. Christians have also just celebrated Easter and have observed both Passion Week [20] and Bright Week [21].
THE COMMANDMENT TO OBSERVE THE MONTH OF AVIV
As mentioned, Deuteronomy 16:1 [22] tells us to 'observe' the month of Aviv, although there are few references to the word 'aviv' in the Torah [23].
The word for 'observe' in Hebrew is 'shamar' [24] and this word is used (inter alia) in relation to Adam's cultivation and 'keeping' of the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15 [25]); the 'guarding' of Eden by the cherubim after Adam was driven out (Genesis 3:24 [26]); the reply made by Cain to Yehova about his brother, Abel (Genesis 4:9 [27]) and Yehova's command to Abraham to 'keep' the covenant (Genesis 17:9 [28]). You may have also heard this in relation to someone who observes the Sabbath, that is, who is 'Shomer Shabbat' [29].
The only further reference to 'aviv' is in Leviticus 2:14 [30], in relation to grain offerings of firstfruits, where we are told that those who wish to bring these types offerings must 'offer crushed heads (aviv) of new grain roasted on fire'.
AVIV AND THE HARVEST
'Aviv' is first mentioned in Exodus 9:31 [31], in the middle of Moses' discussions with Pharoah.
Exodus 9:29-33 [32] says (paraphrased):
'Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to Yehova. The thunder will cease and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is Yehova's. But as for you and your officials, I know that you still do not fear Yehova, Elohim". Now the flax and barley were struck because the barley was in the head (ripe) (aviv) [33] and the flax was in bloom; but the wheat and spelt were not destroyed, because they are late crops".
As such, we can see that the word 'aviv' describes a stage of maturity for a harvest. There are interesting discussions on the nature and development of the grain and what this means for Torah-based agriculture [34]; as well as the connection between Aviv and the festivals of Shavuot and Succot [35]. It also alludes to a need for the Jewish calendar to incorporate both solar and lunar calculations [36]).
According to unaffiliated source, Chabad [37],
"Aviv comes from the Hebrew word av (Heb. אב), literally translated as 'father,' explaining that it means the first ('father') and earliest month to ripen fruits".
QUESTIONS
What happened to observing the month of Aviv?
How should we observe the month of Aviv?
REFERENCES
1. Deuteronomy 16:1: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/deuteronomy/16-1.htm.
2. 'Shamar': https://biblehub.com/nasec/hebrew/8104.htm; https://biblehub.com/nasec/hebrew/8104.htm.
3. 'Asah': https://biblehub.com/nasec/hebrew/6213.htm.
4. For why I write God's name as 'Yehova', please see: https://www.israelalia.com/g-ds-name.
5. Exodus 13:4: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/13-4.htm.
6. Exodus 23:15: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/23-15.htm
7. Exodus 34:18: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/34-18.htm.
8. Exodus 12:2: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/12-2.htm.
9. Time and Date, 'The Jewish Calendar': https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/jewish-calendar.html#:~:text=Calendar%20Structure&text=A%20year%20in%20the%20Hebrew,even%20numbers%20have%2029%20days.
10. Ester 3:7: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/esther/3-7.htm.
11. The Hebrew days begin in the evening; therefore, it is both 30th Nissan and 1st Iyar on the 8th May 2024.
12. The month is called 'Chodesh Ha'aviv' in Exodus 13:4 (https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/13-4.htm); 'Rosh Chodashim' in Exodus 12:2 (https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/12-2.htm) and 'Nissan' in Esther 3:7 (https://biblehub.com/interlinear/esther/3-7.htm)
13. Ulpan Aviv, 'Pesach': https://www.ulpanaviv.com/resources/jewish-holidays/pesach.
14. Chabad, 'Why Babylonian Names for Jewish Months?': https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/987524/jewish/Why-Babylonian-Names-for-Jewish-Months.htm.
15. "The original system was to count months in numeric order, starting from Nissan. Thus, any time a person mentioned a month, he was in effect recalling the exodus from Egypt: we are in, say, the sixth month—six months since the month of the Exodus", Chabad, 'Why Babylonian Names for Jewish Months?': https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/987524/jewish/Why-Babylonian-Names-for-Jewish-Months.htm.
16. My Jewish Learning, 'The Month of Elul': https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-month-of-elul/.
17. Elul is observed in modern times by a period of reflection, said to culminate in personal transformations over what is currently called as 'Rosh Hashana'. 'Rosh Hashana' is a Shabbaton called 'the 1st of Tishrei' in the Torah. For the most recent IsraelAlia post on the 1st Tishrei, see: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelAliaCovenant/photos/pb.100064601442948.-2207520000/6161109203904387/?type=3.
18. Britannica, 'Islamic calendar': https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islamic-calendar.
19. Birmingham Mail, 'Ramadan 2024 could start on two different dates as early indications issued': https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/ramadan-2024-could-start-two-28749475?fbclid=IwAR2QNuVtN326jh5DITzk5skQZPRhelYKbsv9CeTuP4WZ1K93zVSYskhWubk_aem_Af0OML9LdQyXej-RK8_tcwnisHxbM8QzRSQndrElT9OkK_WVnchekB5lVW8mC_9at3c3VaaDNSoLTXklgv7MtP4N.
20. Compelling Truth, 'Passion Week - What is it?': https://www.compellingtruth.org/Passion-Week.html?fbclid=IwAR3khirhqgSQDS01vQPnuzExxx2Ifs6F3iAuBcIRn1wqXRr3nUbztmCd_iY_aem_Af0fuBTu7HNZhwAGyzwj3fcXKYK_Kl46enppyaRcSliy6sEWljyx7h5c-2qXWC8tlTDbALAtRV4IbLy6Gkj5b2F4.
21. Orthochristian.com, 'Diakainisimos or Bright Week: Week Following Pascha': https://orthochristian.com/78768.html?fbclid=IwAR0oXTq2nQyIsaY0H6z4axTBv3YC6n9LgxdvAFHzQhgEM1LohM5-pmGCXLg_aem_Af047khYUzAAJqCvzKb9VbLOaINC2hWepAcASWQIEyG59m-g4kx-sJDRoPi_mHdIr0IAUGC84T_X82GLrfeCxgc2.
22. Deuteronomy 16:1: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/deuteronomy/16-1.htm.
23. 'Aviv': https://biblehub.com/strongs/hebrew/24.htm; https://biblehub.com/hebrew/strongs_24.htm.
24. 'Shamar': https://biblehub.com/nasec/hebrew/8104.htm; https://biblehub.com/nasec/hebrew/8104.htm.
25. Genesis 2:15: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/2-15.htm.
26. Genesis 3:24: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/3-24.htm.
27. Genesis 4:9: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/4-9.htm.
28. Genesis 17:9: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/17-9.htm.
29. Torch, 'To be a Shomer Shabbos Jew': https://www.torchweb.org/torah_detail.php?id=187.
30. Leviticus 2:14: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/leviticus/2-14.htm.
31. Exodus 9:31: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/9-31.htm.
32. Exodus 9: https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/9.htm.
33. 'Aviv': https://biblehub.com/hebrew/strongs_24.htm.
34. Nehemiah Gordon, 'Aviv Barley in the Biblical Calendar': https://www.nehemiaswall.com/aviv-barley-in-the-biblical-calendar.
35. Meaningful Life, 'Agricultural Man: Shavuot https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/23-1.htmultural-man/. See also in relation to Succot, Exodus 23:1: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/23-1.htm and Deuteronomy 16:13-15: https://biblehub.com/bsb/deuteronomy/16.htm.
36. Although N.B. the combination of calculations enables us to see a greater picture, see Global Human Education, 'Consecutive Revelations: Judaism, Christianity and Islam": https://www.globalhumaneducation.com/l/consecutive-revelations-judaism-christianity-and-islam/?fbclid=IwAR3P6Inexafko5-11DU7h8tssPtDDpoD4thLsICHU-CleUS_KoOQ2-kNK90_aem_Af3w6SG2k3fAlArDmqX0HKB_4UrHY-k0HJbjKc4t_CRl4G6Cmxw_iGsVkIvKWAW2jeA3LOusv56wSv5aFgkvy2NK.
37. Chabad, 'When is the Jewish Month of Aviv?': https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1808461/jewish/When-Is-the-Jewish-Month-of-Aviv.htm#:~:text=So%20aviv%20is%20not%20the,%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20month%20of%20spring (footnote 2).