"At that time there will be no hunger or war, no jealousy or rivalry. For good will be plentiful, and all delicacies available as dust. The entire occupation of the world will be only to known G-d.... As it is written : 'For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of G-d, as the waters cover the sea....'" Maimonides, Laws of Kings 12:5

LIFE: Since 1900, average life expectancy in the United States has risen to 74 years from 47, a gain of nearly 60 percent.

SAFETY: According to the F.B.I., the nation's murder rate reached its lowest level in 30 years, as serious crimes reported to the police in 1997 declined for a sixth consecutive year.

GOODWILL: According to a recent poll by the Boston firm of Marzilla Communications/Kiley & Co., anti-Semitism has dropped by 50 percent since 1992.

ENVIROMENT: In 1970, only 25 percent of river-miles in the nation met federal standards for fishing and swimming, while now, amazingly, 60 percent meet that standard.

EDUCATION: Today, there are twice as many institutions of higher education in the world as there were only fifty years ago. There are nearly 15 million students attending colleges and universities in the United States today. That's 2.5 times more than thirty years ago and some 100 times more than a century ago. A U.S. government report finds that 28 percent of high school students have an "A" average, nearly double the comparable rate in 1970.

PEACE: Besides downsizing their defense industries, many nations are slashing the size of their armies. In 1970, the United States had 3.1 million military personnel on active duty, with more than 1 million stationed in foreign countries. By 1988, the active duty roster had dropped to 2.1 million, with 541,000 serving abroad. Now, according to the Statistical Abstract of the United States, only 1.6 million are on active duty, and only 267,000 serve in foreign countries.

LITERATURE: Despite the huge growth in multi-media, Americans are buying a record number of books. Yearly purchases now exceed 2 billion books, up from about 1.7 billion in the mid-1980s.

CHARITY: Americans gave some $144 billion to charity in 1995 (up nearly 8 percent from the previous year), marking the sharpest gain in giving in a decade.

Nine Questions About 'Moshiach'

Following is a a brief discussion on a crucial part of Judaism.
by Rabbi I. Rubin, Director of Chabad in Albany NY, followed by several additional links on this fundamental subject in Judaism

1)Isn't the "Messiah" a Christian idea?
Moshiach originates in the Jewish Torah and Prophets. The concept was later borrowed and changed by others.

2)How important is Moshiach to Judaism?
Very. It's one of the 13 Fundamental Jewish Principles. "I believe in the coming of the Moshiach each day, and even if he will tarry, I wait for him.

3)Isn't belief in Moshiach an escape from reality?
No. We don't live out of suitcases. Judaism is realistic, down-to-earth and lives in the here and now. We plan ahead normally, even while knowing that our current situation is waiting for Moshiach to arrive imminently.

4)Isn't "Messiah" just a euphemism for a utopian peace on Earth?
It isn't just a wishful thinking or fantasy, but an oft - repeated Divine promise that a specific person and events will change the world for good.

5)Who will be the Moshiach?
A human descendant of King David, committed to all the Torah, will gather all Jews to Israel, rebuild the Temple and bring universal peace.

6)Why do we eagerly anticipate Moshiach?
Besides bringing peace to Israel and wiping out misery throughout the world, all of creation will be brought to fulfillment. However comfortable we may presently seem, our world remains incomplete, to say the least.

7)Will our world change drastically?
Initially, the world will continue its natural course, later ascending to a supernatural state, including the Resurrection of the dead. (Maimonides)

8)Is now the time?
We certainly hope so. It can happen anytime, but the earlier the better. Events indicate that the time is ripe, and we should try to realize the potential.

9)What can I do about it?
Do more Mitzvos - each Mitzva brings the Redemption closer. Learn Torah for greater Moshiach awareness - so that Redemption is in popular demand. May it come speedily in our days!

For more information regarding the concept of Moshiach, please follow the links provided below.
Translation of the Laws of Kings by Maimonides.
Belief in Moshiach - Possibility or Certainty Wellsprings Magazine
Normative Judaism by Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet
For more on this subject see Special Moshiach Section