The death of the actor Leonard Nimoy, legendary for the half-human, half-Vulcan Star Trek character Mr. Spock, has focussed attention on his iconic “Live Long and Prosper” divided-finger hand gesture that was based on the hands raised in blessing by the Cohanim in Jewish tradition — a common motif found on the gravestones of Cohanim, or descendants of the priestly tribe, and in the ornamentation of Arks in synagogues.
Nimoy, who died Friday at 83, was the Boston-born son of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. He spoke Yiddish and, particularly in later life, was immersed in Jewish heritage and culture. In this video interview with the Yiddish Book Center, he explains how he came to use the hand raised in blessing as Mr. Spock’s trademark gesture.
Remembering Leonard Nimoy, we post images of the hands raised in blessing, which we will also post in a separate gallery.
