burton@inuxg.UUCP (Thomas Burton) (05/03/84)
xx <- two footed bug stomp The origin of the Vulcan "live long and prosper" salute follows: Leonard Nimoy (who appeared at my undergraduate school and gave a **free** lecture!) stated that the writers needed some sort of salute or sign for the Vulcans (unclear on this point). Anyway, when Nimoy was just a lad attending Synagogue on Sabbath, the rabbi would bless the congregation as they left; you weren't supposed to look back as you left, but being a kid, Nimoy stole a glance once and (did not turn to a pillar of salt but) saw the rabbi with arms extended over the congregation and his fingers in the now-famous Vulcan salute. So Nimoy decided to use this on the show. This is (from memory, I'll admit) the story he told us about the origin of the salute. Is that the origin you had in mind? Doug Burton ATT-CP Indianapolis inuxg!burton