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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/