The classic Vulcan greeting made famous by his Star Trek character was inspired by a blessing from the Jewish faith, Nimoy, who passed away on Friday, told the Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project in 2014.
The hand gesture is also in the shape of the Hebrew letter “shin,” Leonard Nimoy explained.
“People don’t realize they’re blessing each other with this. It’s great,” Nimoy said in the video.
President Barack Obama, who famously posed in 2012 with “Star Trek” actress Nichelle Nichols while giving the Vulcan salute, released a statement yesterday afternoon about the death of actor Leonard Nimoy:
Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy. Leonard was a lifelong lover of the arts and humanities, a supporter of the sciences, generous with his talent and his time. And of course, Leonard was Spock. Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the center of Star Trek’s optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity’s future.
I loved Spock.
In 2007, I had the chance to meet Leonard in person. It was only logical to greet him with the Vulcan salute, the universal sign for “Live long and prosper.” And after 83 years on this planet – and on his visits to many others – it’s clear Leonard Nimoy did just that. Michelle and I join his family, friends, and countless fans who miss him so dearly today.
The 83-year-old actor passed away this morning in his Los Angeles home due to end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Leonard Nimoy (March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor, film director, poet, singer and photographer. Nimoy was known for his role as Spock in the original Star Trek series (1966–69), and in multiple film, television and video game sequels. Rest in peace, Mr. Spock!
Sources: The New York Times, The Washington Post and Wikipedia
