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One of the key signs that we have are in covenant with our Creator is to reckon time according to His calendar. This unique calendar is not difficult to keep track of even alongside other calendars that may be the standard in the greater society in which you live. Billions of people follow a Roman based calendar, others the Chinese calendar, or the Muslim calendar. We can find where the Torah calendar corresponds to each of these at any time, but realize that dates in the Torah calendar are not fixed to dates in any another calendar.

For example although it is common to say that Shabbat is on Saturday, this is incorrect. There is no Saturday in the Torah calendar. It would be proper to understand that Shabbat currently coincides with Friday evening to Saturday evening, actually spanning portions of two different Roman days. It may have been this way for a very long time, but in reality there is absolutely no connection, Saturday and Shabbat are not fixed to each other. If for some reason there is a shift in the Roman calendar, Shabbat could correspond to say Monday and or Tuesday. Shabbat falls across the 5^th and 6^th day of the Chinese week. The Torah calendar with its own days, weeks, months and years is kept independently and does not rely upon any other calendar.

One reason we use our own calendar is because heathen calendars are filled with honours to gods and idols that are prohibited to us. For example every day of the week honours the god or goddess of some heathen cult. Sun-day, Moon-Day, Tues-Day, Wodens-Day, Thors-Day, Freya-Day, Saturn-Day. And even the name of many months; January for Janus, February for Februus, etc. All heathen holidays are according to heathen calendars, many of which fall on days that correspond to Sun worship, at the times of solar equinoxes, solstices, and cross-quarter days. The Torah calendar of the Creator contains no vestigial nor contemporary heathen worship, foreign gods, idolatry, or any other pollution. So when someone asks when the feast of Unleavened Bread begins, the answer is always; on the 15th day of the first moon. We observe these days without regard for what the day may be on any other calendar. We also work six days a week between each shabbat, even if discreetly during other's holidays as not to arouse their ire.

Even within Judaism there are different opinions as to how the calendar should be kept as to the beginning of days, months, weeks, and years. This was not always the case as all Israel followed one calendar in unity. Different sects arose which produced their own interpretations of the scriptures concerning how to reckon the days and times. After the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and Jews were decentralized, it became difficult to keep the traditional calendar. New systems were developed to calculate the times that diverged from the Torah in order to serve a people in exile. Since then many have sought to rediscover the original calendar, but there has been much disagreement.

"According to the oral instruction and to the oral judgment that they declare that you shall do. And you shall not turn from the oral decree that they reveal to you, neither to the right nor to the left." - Debarim (Deuteronomy) 17:11

Our Creator ensured a simple way to keep all Israel unified. He gave authority to Moses and to the great council of Israel to decide the calendar for the whole community. They had the final word to end all disputes even when other sects and individuals had different ideas. This council was also known as the Sanhedrin to which Rabbi Yeshua insisted that we give our respect, because of their God given authority (even if we disagreed with them). We Natzraya stopped recognizing their authority only after it had been taken from them and was transferred to the Messiah, Yeshua Natzraya, who delegated it to his own council which he appointed. It is their authority we follow now.

Now the calendar one decides to follow also shows to whose authority they submit. If you follow the Orthodox calendar, then you are also saying you recognize their authority, or if you follow the Karaite calendar, likewise you are making a statement that you recognize their authority. But if you are not prepared to recognize their authority in all matters, then it becomes difficult to maintain such inconsistency. Those who desire to follow the Messiah, Rabbi Yeshua Natzraya, to respect his authority and associate with his community, then one should follow the ordinance of his council, as the Torah instructs and as we see especially in the book of Acts. Without such organization there will be no unity and the community will break down because of being divided against itself.

"And you can not continue to do what we are doing here, everyone doing whatever is right in their own eyes." - Debarim (Deuteronomy) 12:4

We all want to follow the most authentic and accurate calendar. If someone thinks that our calendar has an error or could be improved, they are free to properly make their case to the council, carefully prepared and presented with a brief summary in their introduction. It will be reviewed for its merits, and when and if the council comes to an agreement it may decide to incorporate changes and make them binding upon all. Side-stepping this process and promoting a competitive and unauthorized system would disrespect the authority of the council and bring division. Such actions may jeopardize that person's standing within the community. We are a community that believes in unity and order, and we follow the instructions of the Torah carefully. This brings the greatest possible benefit to everyone, just as in greater societies where all follow one authority and one calendar. If one can submit to the heathen in such matters, never even questioning, then they should have no problem in accepting a higher authority. 

Our calendar can be easily viewed on our calendar page, and important dates and times are also posted on our home page. In addition we have articles that explain various calendar topics. May יהוה bless your understanding.