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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site utflis.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utcsri!utai!utflis!brown
From: brown@utflis.UUCP (Susan Brown)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: vulcan triva question
Message-ID: <541@utflis.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 23-Oct-85 14:08:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: utflis.541
Posted: Wed Oct 23 14:08:35 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Oct-85 04:42:26 EDT
References: <371@sesame.UUCP> <95300013@haddock.UUCP>
Reply-To: brown@utflis.UUCP (Susan Brown)
Organization: FLIS, University of Toronto
Lines: 15
Summary: 

In article <95300013@haddock.UUCP> jimc@haddock.UUCP writes:
>> Who knows the origin of the vulcan's spread-finger salute?
>According to Leonard Nimoy, it is derived from the way a rabbi
>blesses the congregation when their backs are turned to him,
>which is part of the ceremony.  Nimoy, as a curious little boy with
>his parents at services, turned and watched the rabbi, even when
>this was not permitted.  This had a lasting effect on him,
>and during the shooting of "Amok Time", he suggested that this
>same hand configuration be used as a greeting on Vulcan.
>				Jim Campbell

I agree.  Nimoy asked Celia Lovsky (T'Pau) if she could 'do this' when
they were discussing how to greet each other and since she could (Shatner
had to tie his fingers together in Search for Spock), they devised the
bit of business on the spot.