Per Rabbi Morrison, “You’re not supposed to look when the Kohanim do the blessing and ‘salute,’ because you are supposed to be focusing on the words and thinking of G-d as opposed to focusing on the people saying the words.” There are varying beliefs as to why one should turn away, Nimoy was told you could die for seeing the feminine side of G-d appearing during the blessing. He was born in Boston, but his parents came from a village in what is now Ukraine, where his father worked as a barber. “When the Kohanim do the priestly blessing, they take their two hands and bring the thumbs together and it’s like the ‘Live Long and Prosper’ sign.” But, Rabbi Morrison continued, the version in the blessing differs slightly. Live Long and Prosper is a now-famous hand gesture performed when two Vulcan characters either greet one another or take their leave. Thus, they shall link my name with the people of Israel, and I will bless them. The New York Times 3.31M subscribers Leonard Nimoy Explains Origin of Vulcan Greeting | The New York Times It is derived from the ancient Vulcan blessing : "May you live long and prosper". Though I can’t say for sure, I have a suspicion that Arlene Martel, who played Spock’s bride-to-be, T’Pring, a fellow Eastern-European Jew, could probably flash the sign with ease. The accompanying spoken blessing, "live long and prosper" – "dif-tor heh smusma" in the Vulcan language (as spoken in Star Trek: The Motion Picture) – also appeared for the first time in "Amok Time", scripted by Theodore Sturgeon. Your password must include at least 8 characters with a combination of upper/lower case, number and symbol. A common Vulcan saying. It brought my TV world and my Jewish world together like they were one.”. Externally, Vulcans are exceptionally similar to Humans, the main differences being their arched eyebrows and pointed ears. So when Leonard Nimoy had an idea for a Vulcan greeting, Roddenberry let him bring along a piece of his culture. Enter the email address associated with your account and we'll send you a link to reset your password. From our Obsession. Visit Vulcan, Alberta. Michelle Boorstein contributed reporting. Though most of us immediately recognize the salute as the Vulcan greeting, its true origin comes directly from the Torah. At a young age, Leonard Nimoy saw a sign that later became his trademark, and Vulcan salute of “live long and prosper.” I had read that this hand gesture was based on the compass and the square. Leonard Nimoy first saw what became the famous Vulcan salute, “live long and prosper,” as a child, long before “Star Trek” even existed. Gene Roddenberry’s mission for Star Trek was always to tell stories that included elements from a diversity of cultures, be they alien or of Earth. Nimoy, who died on Friday, spoke about the Jewish roots of the famous gesture for an oral history project documenting the lives of Yiddish speakers, of which Nimoy is one. Glass. The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. He suggested the prayer gesture from his childhood. 17 Star Trek's use of the Jewish ritual is not coincidental. Their origins do not emanate from the vast final frontier, however, but rather from Leonard Nimoy’s Jewish heritage. . Live Long and Prosper. “My first language was English,” Nimoy told the interviewer in Yiddish, “but I needed to speak Yiddish with my grandparents.”. She’s been published in Grim Magazine, CBR, Nightmarish Conjurings and more. has also accompanied the Vulcan salute ever since its debut in “Amok Time,” also inspired by Jewish scripture, with Deuteronomy 5:33 being the most cited inspiration for the phrase. “Boy,” he said, “that just took off. In a project for the Yiddish Book Center, Nimoy recounted the story of the first Star Trek episode where Spock visits the planet Vulcan in the Season 2 premiere, "Amok Time." “It brought all of my worlds together. Follow her on Twitter @smashtraves. One of the popular ones, especially with the geekier among us, is the “Live long and prosper” gesture made famous by the actor Leonard Nimoy on the original Star Trek series. “I had no idea what was going on, but the sound of it and the look of it was magical.”. —  the Bemidbar, Chapter 6, verses 22-27, Though Jewish fans of Star Trek might be thrilled by the addition of something so deep in our culture, many of us have never seen the hand sign used in religious practice. After witnessing the ritual all those years ago, Nimoy practiced making the “V” with his fingers as a child. He funded another project to record Yiddish stories and distribute them to children. Media are best understood as a competition for attention on internet-connected screens. Mr. Spock “Live Long and Prosper” Did you know that Star Trek‘s Vulcan “Live long and prosper” greeting with the distinctive upraised hand sign comes from Jewish tradition? “Now, the blessing is done ‘symbolically’ by the Kohanim daily in Israel, and outside, during festivals.”. Live Long and Prosper Day Date When Celebrated : This holiday event is always March 26 "Live Long and Prosper" is a saying from Science Officer and First Officer Spock, a Vulcan aboard the Starship Enterprise on the television series Star Trek. He will be missed.”, [Leonard Nimoy’s struggle with being Spock]. The man who would play Spock saw the gesture as part of a blessing, and it never left him. The prayer, meant to bless the congregation, is named after the feminine aspect of God, Nimoy explained in a 2012 post on the “Star Trek” site. Another hand symbolizes the blessings God has given to us as well as Christ followers. He first saw what became the famous Vulcan salute, “live long and prosper,” as a child at an Orthodox Jewish synagogue service in Boston. This “Vulcan salute, ” as it has come to be called, was invented on the set by Leonard Nimoy during the filming of the second-season opener, “Amok Time.” After submitting her Bachelor’s thesis, “The Metaphysics of Schwarzenegger Movies,” she decided to focus on writing about her passions which include sci-fi, horror, sports and comics. Leonard Nimoy aka Spock passed away on Friday, and some fans of the beloved actor are wondering how he came up with the popular Vulcan salute that his character often used in Star Trek. Although Nimoy never hid his upbringing from the world, my short experience there is why Nimoy’s work to preserve the language of his childhood came to mind today. So we are told to protect ourselves by closing our eyes,” he wrote in the blog. The (lesser known) response is "Peace and long life." “Something really got hold of me,” Nimoy said in a 2013 interview with the National Yiddish Book Center. Peace and Long Life. 'Live long and prosper' from the Vulcan “Dif-tor heh smusma” As part of the Yiddish Book Center Wexler Oral History Project, Leonard Nimoy explains the origin of the Vulcan hand signal used by Spock, his character in the Star Trek series The greeting Live long and prosper! “It was the first time we’d seen other Vulcans, other people of my race, so I was hoping to find some touching that could help develop the Vulcan sociology,” Nimoy said. https://www.startrek.com/news/live-long-and-prosper-jewish-history-month And I saw them with their hands stuck out from beneath the tallit like this,” Nimoy said, showing the “V” with both his hands. ^ Surak's Construct at simegen.com. ", The Spock actor recalled a time he attended synagogue and his father told him not to look when five or six men went to the Bima (the raised platform at the front of a synagogue where readings are done) and began shouting a blessing. 22 Leonard Nimoy Quotes That Will Live Long and Prosper Forever Star Trek icon passed away at the age of 83, but his wisdom will be with us always. The phrase "Live long and prosper" is accompanied by this formal hand gesture. It represents the Jewish Priestly blessing of the descendants of Aaron. The Vulcan "live long and prosper" salute is based upon a blessing gesture used by the Jewish priests (kohanim) during the worship service, and was … “[Y]ou needed the Kohanim and their officiating to be able to fulfill certain Jewish practices.” Morrison said. … A disclosure: Years ago, as a college student, I worked part-time at the National Yiddish Book Center, which is located on my alma mater’s campus. The Jewish roots of Leonard Nimoy and ‘live long and prosper’ Live Long and Prosper Avoiding the dangers of outliving your money. The greeting Live long and prosper! "Live long and prosper." (TOS: \"Is There in Truth No Beauty?\", \"The Savage Curtain\"; TNG: \"Sarek\", \"Unification I\") Alternately, each party could simply state to the other \"Live long and prosper, (name).\" (TOS: \"Amok Time\"; Star Trek: Voyager various episodes) He also explains how being Jewish helped him relate to his half-human/half-Vulcan character. When parties took their leave of each other, one party could use the phrase \"Peace and long life\" and would receive \"Live long and prosper\" as a reply. The phrase has been seen abbreviated "LLAP". Ancient-origins.net user profile page for user live long and prosper “I think we should have some special greeting that Vulcans do,” Nimoy recalled saying. “The light from this Deity could be very damaging. That was, he said, until a “Star Trek” script required his character Spock to go home to Vulcan. In addressing questions of purpose, "Spock often advised one to 'Live long and prosper' with customary salute" (Nimoy 209). 'Live long and prosper' is an abbreviated version of a traditional Jewish religious blessing. Laughing, Nimoy revealed the best part of it all: “People don’t realize they’re blessing each other with this!”. It’s also the official symbol for Star Trek in American Sign Language. The Shekhinah, Nimoy has said, was also the name of the prayer he participated in as a boy that inspired the salute. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. What's the origin of the phrase 'Live long and prosper'? The words in the blessing itself are part of the Amidah, the daily prayers, but the sign we know as the Vulcan salute is only done when the Kohanim are called upon to stand before the congregation and recite them. But neither Nimoy or I could help ourselves — we peeked. By subscribing to the Star Trek newsletter, which may include personalized offers from our advertising partners, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data collection and usage practices outlined in our Privacy Policy. Years later, Nimoy would suggest this magical hand sign extend from his personal heritage to that of his character. “[Spock] only does it on the show with the one hand, but the Kohanim, when they do the blessing, take the two hands, connect the thumbs to make the Hebrew letter Shin.” Shin is the first letter of Shaddai, one of the names given to G-d in the Torah. The less-well-known reply is "peace and long life", though it is sometimes said first, with "live long and prosper" as the reply. It’s a new year, which often comes with the drive to try new... Robin Damore isn’t a devoted Star Trek fan. The lord spoke to Moses. Though Nimoy could flash the sign with ease, not every Vulcan could. Search This Blog. The salute’s origin, however, doesn’t come out of the vast final frontier, but instead from Leonard Nimoy’s Jewish heritage. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Share your feedback by emailing the author. The Origin of Star Trek’s Live Long and Prosper Greeting. (Footnote 17) The modern Hebrew greeting ("Shalom") is a still shorter version of this blessing. It was said his fingers were glued together for production, but Quinto swears this is just a rumor. Aaron is the Jewish High Priest, and the sons of Aaron are Priests, or the Kohanim. Here are just a few: A segment from the Adam Nimoy film "For The Love Of Spock" (2016). Vulcans are a sapient humanoid race native to planet Vulcan. Where did Spock get his Vulcan hand sign? It just touched a magic chord. It came to a wider public in the Star Trek TV series, where it was used there by the character Mr. Spock (actor … The salute’s accompanying phrase, “live long and prosper,” is equally legend and thrives as part of the lexicon of human vernacular. [Leonard Nimoy’s final public words: ‘Live long and prosper’], At the beginning of the interview, Nimoy talked about his childhood in Yiddish. Live Long and Prosper. by Gail Rubin. (As Jews, we are not to type, write or say the word for god — capitalized — unless in an in context blessing. An email will not be created automatically. For Jewish Trekkies like me and Rabbi Morrison, two incredibly important aspects of our lives get to intersect. That hand is the nail pierced hands of Jesus Christ because of His death on the cross for our sins. He knew something “major,” was happening so, young Nimoy peeked to see those men with their hands poking out from their Tallit (a scarf like garment worn by Jews, draped over their heads during this blessing) in a striking hand sign that he thought was “magical.”. He “never dreamed” he would one day make the gesture so publicly and repeatedly as an adult. They are notable for their commitment to logic and reasoning, and for being one of the founding members of the United Federation of Planets. I thought that it was pretty cool that later in his life, Nimoy had given several interviews where he explained his Jewish heritage and how the Hebrew origins of the Vulcan hand signal. Celia Lovsky, who played T’Pau, the Vulcan Minister, was unable to do the sign on her own and had her fingers taped together for production. “There are some who believe that if you look, you will go blind, but the idea is that the focus should be on hearing the words and internalizing the meaning of the words and not looking at the Kohanim who are doing it. Shakespeare concludes, "To utter the smart that I suffer within; / But such it is I not how to begin" (28-29). Nimoy’s incorporation of the blessing  speaks particularly poignantly about the permeable boundaries between Spock and Nimoy himself. Lindsay Traves (She/Her) is a writer based in Toronto where she lives with her dog, Spock. The Biblical Origins of ‘Live Long and Proper’ It really not so strange that this saying would have its origin in a Jewish blessing since this adage is found throughout the Bible in numerous locations in the Hebrew scriptures and in the later Christian New Testament. “Live Long and Prosper.” These words are immediately recognized and associated with Star Trek and its fandom, and the Vulcan salute is an even more recognizable extension of that phrase. has also accompanied the Vulcan salute ever since its debut in “Amok Time,” also inspired by Jewish scripture, with Deuteronomy 5:33 … Fair Use Notice. The email will only be created once you click on the "Send Email" button. Review our, Leonard Nimoy’s final public words: ‘Live long and prosper’, Leonard Nimoy’s struggle with being Spock. This one element added a layer to what Gene Roddenberry did, ensuring diversity on his screen and allowing the actors to bring elements of themselves to the characters. The Lord will bless you and protect you, the Lord will go kindly and graciously with you. The Vulcan “live long and prosper” salute is based upon a blessing gesture used by the Jewish priests (kohanim) during the worship service, and was … I reached out to the Center, which explained that Nimoy started recording Jewish short stories, from Eastern Europe, in 1995, for a radio show hosted by the Center. The Hebrew letter shin, he noted, is the first letter in several Hebrew words, including Shaddai (a name for God), Shalom (the word for hello, goodbye and peace) and Shekhinah, which he defined as “the feminine aspect of God who supposedly was created to live among humans.”. How the hand gesture for "Live Long And Prosper" was created. Zachary Quinto allegedly had some trouble with the salute and did some Vulcan finger exercises while preparing for his most logical role. The placement of the hands comes from a childhood memory, of an Orthodox Jewish synagogue service in Boston. After considering the the greetings people have across cultures, Nimoy thought the Vulcans should have their own. What You Need To Get Started On Your Star Trek Adventures, Star Trek History: The Trouble with Tribbles, Everything You Didn't Know About The Guardian of Forever, 7 Things You Didn’t Know About the Guardian of Forever, his fingers were glued together for production, Before Home Video, Science-Fiction Fans Worked Harder to Keep Fandom Alive. “Toward the end of his life, he called for increased efforts to teach Yiddish to a new generation,” Aaron Lansky, the center’s president, added in an email. What is interesting is how the Vulcan hand sign came to be. “Live long and prosper.” These words, along with the Vulcan salute, are immediately recognized and associated with Star Trek, which is celebrating the 53rd anniversary of its first episode this month. The Vulcan ritual of greeting consists of the handsign accompanied by a blessing: 'Live long and prosper,' which is an abbreviated paraphrase of the original Jewish blessing. ), The hand sign is done during the performance of the blessing by the Kohanim who stand at the front of the sanctuary and bless the congregation. Live long and prosper. The Lord will bestow his favour upon you and grant you peace. Spock was to visit his home planet to be married, and it would be the first time another Vulcan would be seen on screen. He noted that “most people to this day still don’t know” the history of the greeting, although he repeatedly and enthusiastically shared its origin. Most people don’t know the history of the greeting, despite Nimoy sharing the story often. ^ Vulcan Language on Memory Alpha; the pronunciation was coined by James Doohan (Scotty) as a phrase that could be lip-synced to the spoken words "live long and prosper" in English. December 7 th, 2011. Cubs Home. I chatted with Rabbi Morrison of Beth Emeth Synagogue in Toronto, Ontario, an expert on both Judaism and “nerd TV culture,” who told me more about the origin of the salute. Several articles discussed it … Historically, this was done daily in the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple, when it stood in Jerusalem. When the Kohanim perform the blessing and show the salute, the congregation is meant to turn away. “I’m not sure any Vulcan ever spoke a more geshmak (flavorful) Yiddish. Speak to Aaron and his sons this is how you bless the people of Israel, say to them;  “They get their tallits over their heads, and they start this chanting,” Nimoy says in the 2013 interview, “And my father said to me, ‘don’t look’.” At first he obliged, but what he could hear intrigued him. It … Numbers 6:24-26 was the blessing which accompanied that sign which Nimoy translated to “Live long and prosper.” Who knew all of that was Biblical in origin? May The Jewish Origin of the Vulcan Salute by Rabbi Yonassan Gershom We come now to the most famous Jewish influence on Vulcan culture, the “live long and prosper” hand gesture. Nimoy introduced the hand sign of the Kohanim Jewish blessing which would become the Vulcan salute. CBS Entertainment | This site and its contents ® & © 2021 CBS Studios Inc. © 2021 CBS Television Distribution and CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Have a question about our comment policies? “I thought, ‘something major is happening here.’ So I peeked. This notorious hand sign has become a salute for Trek fans worldwide. “This is the shape of the letter shin,” Nimoy said in the 2013 interview, making the famous “V” gesture. Accompanied by this formal hand gesture attention on internet-connected screens he “ never ”! Idea for a Vulcan greeting, despite Nimoy sharing the story often greeting ( `` Shalom '' is. 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