Many of the cinema-goers who went to see Star Trek XI this weekend have probably seen Mr Spock's famous Vulcan salute many times. But few of them are probably aware that the tricky manoeuvre is actually based upon a biblical blessing.
According to the Daily Mail, the original Mr Spock (Leonard Nimoy) based the greeting on a gesture of blessing he had seen at a Jewish synagogue. And that gesture is part of the Priestly Blessing, which is described in the Bible at Numbers 6:23-26. Ironically, Nimoy even reads this verse out aloud as a narrator during the popular computer game, Civilization IV.
And as you can see above, the precursor to the Vulcan salute is even featured on a synagogue door in Essen, Germany. Also note that originally, the gesture is done with both hands - making getting it right twice as difficult. Photo: Aaron Olaf
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A Star Trek quiz...Boldly going where no quiz has gone before
By David Buckna
Special to ASSIST News Service
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2009/s09050064.htm
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A Heavenly Enterprise
'Star Trek'
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 7, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/06/AR2009050603913.html?wprss=rss_print/style
Posted by: David Buckna | May 15, 2009 at 06:47 AM
WOW! Thanks for the info. Star Trek then is really just not a good movie.
Posted by: Mikes@Your Daily Word | May 16, 2009 at 12:51 AM
Nimoy is Jewish. He has explained how he saw a Rabbi using that symbol with both hands when he was a kid.
Posted by: psikeyhackr | May 18, 2009 at 02:13 PM