Wait, what’s that gesture that I saw while peeking through Jewish cemetery? In the holiest mountain in Israel? Spok? Vulcan salute?
Live Long and Prosper.
But why?? In a solemn place like this? Is it proper?
Let’s take a closer look. Yes the same gesture, a slight split between the middle finger and ring finger. And a 45-degree tilt. Hmmm……?
Actually, the shape of this hand gesture is symbolizing the Hebrew letter שׁ. That’s God’s name!! The Jewish people use this gesture for special prayers!
In particular, the prayer of Aaronic Blessing, or called Priestly Blessing. The descendants of Aaron are called Cohenim. In a synagogue service, they would stand, take off their shoes and bless the congregation in Ancient Hebrew:
“Speak to Aaron and to his sons saying: Thus you are to bless Bnei-Yisrael, by saying to them:
‘Adonai bless you and keep you! Adonai make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you! Adonai turn His face toward you and grant you shalom!’ (Numbers 6:23-27)
This gesture is like a window. Like how God sees us from Heaven:
Look! He is standing behind our wall—
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattice. (Song of Songs 2:9)
In some articles, you’ll see this gesture too (the one on the left) because it is really an ancient blessing!
The priestly blessing is passed from Aaron’s family, the ‘Cohens’. So even today this blessing is performed only by the Cohens. This is the blessing by Rabbi Johnathan Cahn. The prayer starts at 00:50
Finally, why is this a Vulcan salute? Why is it in Star Trek? Well…
Spok was played by Leonard Simon Nimoy, who was a Jew!
He was coming up with a unique greeting style of Vulcans, then he remembered when he was a kid, he saw this unique gesture in synagogues. So he ‘borrowed’ this gesture. Then the gesture went viral with Star Trek. People know this gesture as Vulcan Salute because of Spok, while it’s actually a priestly blessing!
