Reply #79: We really need a bit more information... [View All]

[petronius]

It appears that the rabbi started the conversation by saying that the nazi should be "ashamed". This sounds like a reasonable and legal response to the t-shirt. The nazi responded by calling the rabbi "unhuman" - a word with a pretty specific nazi connotation. The rabbi responded with coffee and violence. My questions would be: does "unhuman" addressed to a Jew constitute 'fighting words', and can the rabbi use a 'fighting words' defense in a conversation that he started? Also, what exactly did the rabbi say to start the conversation - was it a 'polite' statement of "you should be ashamed" or something more belligerent? We can't really say who was legally or morally wrong here without more details. (Although I would consider the t-shirt morally wrong.)

On a more pragmatic level, I think the rabbi erred by starting a fight he couldn't finish...