The Vulcan salute is a hand gesture used by Vulcans, a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. It consists of raising the hand with the palm forward while parting the fingers between the middle and ring fingers.
The story behind this famous greeting originates with Leonard Nimoy, the actor who portrayed the iconic Vulcan character Spock on the original Star Trek series. In the episode 'Amok Time,' Spock greets other Vulcans for the first time in the series. Nimoy decided that it would be a good idea if they used a unique greeting, not a handshake, as with the human species.
Drawing inspiration from his own Jewish heritage, he created the Vulcan salute, basing it on the hand position used by Jewish priests (kohanim) during a religious ceremony called the 'kohenim blessing.' During this blessing, the kohanim extend their both arms with their hands in a similar position, forming the shape of the Hebrew letter 'shin,' which represents the name of God. Nimoy had observed the blessing when he was a young boy with his father.
Nimoy felt that the gesture conveyed a sense of spirituality and uniqueness that suited the character of Spock, who was portrayed as highly logical and spiritually centered. He suggested incorporating the gesture into the character's mannerisms, and it became one of Spock's signature traits throughout the Star Trek franchise.
The Vulcan salute has since become an iconic symbol not only within Star Trek fandom but also in popular culture.
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