Fighting Words- the Debate that Triggered Civil war in Jerusalem in the Great Revolt against Rome 

The statement “Words can kill” sounds like a cliché today. But if we go back to the year 70 CE, we will see that this statement takes on spine-tingling significance. The film focuses on the outbreak of violence that swept Jerusalem into a conflict with Rome and a bloody civil war. It all started when the Zealots, led by Eleazar son of Hanania, stopped the offering of a sacrifice in the Temple for the Roman Emperor’s welfare and ignited the fire of rebellion. In the public debate that followed, the Zealots incited against the leadership in Jerusalem. Very quickly the public discourse degenerated into harsh words and violence that even the sages of those times were unable to stop.