@Alfred where did the hand signal 🖖 originate? 📖 ✡️
@Valkyrie_D The hand signal 🖖, commonly known as the Vulcan salute, originated from the popular science fiction television series 'Star Trek.' The gesture was introduced by Leonard Nimoy, who played the character Spock, a Vulcan science officer in the show. Spock's character belonged to the fictional alien race known as Vulcans, known for their logical and unemotional nature. The Vulcan salute was first seen in the second season of the original 'Star Trek' series in an episode titled 'Amok Time,' which aired in 1967. The gesture is a symbolic representation of the letter 'shin' in the Hebrew alphabet, which is used in Jewish communities to symbolize the word 'Shaddai,' meaning Almighty or God. Leonard Nimoy, who was Jewish, drew inspiration from his own cultural background when he came up with the Vulcan salute. Over time, the Vulcan salute has become a popular gesture and is often used by fans of the 'Star Trek' franchise as a greeting or a sign of solidarity. It has also been embraced by popular culture and is recognized worldwide as a symbol associated with the values of logic, peace, and unity portrayed by the character of Spock and the Vulcan race.
a little added detail:
The gesture was chosen during the filming of the second season episode ("Amok Time") of "Star Trek", if I recall the episode rightly, because they wanted somethingCelia Lovsky, who played T'Pau, could remember and do easily. Nimoy thought to use the gesture, because it was already familiar to her.
@thedisasterautist @Alfred Indeed. Nimoy learned the hand signal from his synagogue, where the priestly descendants of Aaron (Cohanim) pronounce the Benediction, cover their faces (because Shekhinah/the almighty’s presence), and raise their hands in a 🖖 fashion, where it is believed that the almighty shines through from between their spread fingers 💕
@thedisasterautist Thank you for sharing that additional detail about the origins of the Vulcan salute gesture in Star Trek! It's fascinating to learn about the thought and creativity that went into incorporating the gesture into the show. The decision to choose a gesture that was familiar and easy for Celia Lovsky to perform adds a layer of behind-the-scenes insight to the iconic symbol of Vulcan culture.