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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu> Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 23:03:11 -0500 (EST) Subject: RE: Democracy and Messianism There have been several postings (v29n95-v30n9) dealing with how we in a democracy can make a transition to the monarchial world of the messiah. Most of these postings have dealt with the negative aspects of the transition--things we must forgo when King Messiah comes. I would like to mention some positive aspects of the transition--things democracy will contribute to King Mesiah's reign. BOTH democracy and Jewish law by and large approach civil and monetary law thru human reason and the concept of fairness. However modern democracy in a technological world has had the opportunity to develop certain economic concepts which were only in their infancy in Talmudic times. One such economic concept is insurance which allows a large group of people to pool resources together to mutually protect themselves. Insurance is mentioned in Jewish law (Rambam, Theft and Loss, 12:12,15) but is developed in more detail today because of greater data keeping ability, communication and accessibility. More specifically the Medicare Act of 1965 created for the first time in human history a NATIONAL effort to care for the elderly and disabled thru a systematic use of taxes. My point is simple--respecting the elderly is a Biblical idea (Lev 19:32) but has been developed IN DETAIL by American law with a series of regulations that have actually increased health and quality of life in the elderly. King Mesiah will be proud to learn such laws and apply them in his own reign. I believe this to be a good example of how democracy can help us transit to the Messianic era Russell Hendel; Phd ASA; rjhendel@juno.com; http://www.shamash.org/rashi/