Sermon: Parshat Naso
“Star Trek or the Priestly Benediction? Which is Better?”
Metuchen 2009/5769
Rabbi Gerald L. Zelizer

I imagine that in this sanctuary there are quite a few Trekkies – those impassioned and long term fans of the Star Trek television series, its films, conventions, memorabilia and other spin-offs. I am not a Trekkie, but I did regularly watch the original series with William Shattner and Leonard Nimoy in the late 1960’s, when it began. How proud I was as a Rabbinical student in the 1960’s when I learned that the favorite Vulcan salute – raised hand, palm forward, fingers parted between the middle and ring finger – and the thumb extended, which first began in the second season of Star Trek in 1962, was purposely patterned by Leonard Nimoy after the priestly benediction in today’s Sidrah. You can see it in chapter 6 starting with verse 24 – p.804 in Etz Hayim Humash. You have all heard that priestly benediction by rabbis of all stripes – including not only myself, but Reform rabbi’s in an Episcopalian accent and Orthodox rabbi’s with an Ashkenizic intonation.

In Leonard Nimoy's autobiography “I am Not Spock” he tells of shaping this Vulcan greeting on the blessing of the Jewish Kohen and his hand motion, There is a difference. The hand gestures of the priestly benediction, fingers parted with thumb close to index finger, it was meant to imitate the spokes of a Shin, (Shadai-God) Leonard Nimoy – I mean Spock – saw this when he attended an Orthodox synagogue with his grandfather as a child. And let’s don’t forget the accompanying blessing in Star Trek that went along with the hand motion – “Live long and prosper” – or more precisely in Vulcan language more accurately “Dif Tor Heh Smusma.” The priestly benediction is divided into three sections. I think it’s parts are fuller and more ample than “Diftor Heh Smusa.” Tell you why in a minute.

It’s noteworthy by the way that the oldest extent blessing we have in Judaism – the “Birkat Kohenim” are found on Amulets from Jews who lived in Israel in the 1st century BCE., has blessing of the priests written upon it. So with those Amulets the priestly benediction bridges both to the past and into the imagined future through Star Trek!

The “Birkat Kohanim” has another name in Hebrew. It is called “Nisiat Kapayim” – which means the lifting of the hands. In the classic religious service as some of you know, in the Musaf service, Kohanim would ascend to the Bimah in the Repetition of the Ameida, cover themselves under the Talit and repeat the three sections of the priestly formula after the Hazzan. It was thought that Gods blessing was literally transmitted through the hands of the priests to the congregation. People were warned not to look because of the extreme glow of that transmission – kind of like looking into the sun which could blind a person. That reenactment was generally eliminated in the Conservative Movement because the role of the Kohen was inherited and not earned. In this country, though, at least in Conservatism Judaism, there was something contradictory and unseemly about a Kohen who may not have observed the Shabbat or keep kosher standing on the Bimah and transmitting through his hand the blessing of God at this point. Therefore in our service, it is the Hazzan – thank God a Sabbath and Mitzvah observer – who carries this out!

The “Nesiat Kapayim”- lifting of the hands, in blessings by the Kohen, or by Spock/Leonard Nimoy, made me think of the larger role of hand gestures in verbal communication. Consider how hands complement words in this case conveying the power of the priestly benediction. A. How a hand on the shoulder or elbow is reassuring in a difficult moment; B. How a hand over the eyes protects us from an ugly vision; C. Or the clasping of hands in a handshake – perhaps the poorest use of hands in time of communicable virus’! Thank God for purell! D. Or the fist greeting utilized by the black community and now generalized through President Obama. E. Or angry gestures with the hands or at least with a part of it – but I won’t go into those details. And studies at the University of Chicago in 2007 of fourth grade students show actually how hand gestures by children augment their ability to solve mental math problems. And of course signing for the deaf and of course hand gestures which assist with better communication in public speaking.

But what exactly is the lifting of the hands in the blessing of the priests conveying to us in a larger religious sense in 2009? Well, let me tell you how Rashi, the most prominent medieval commentator on the Torah envisions and explains the three parts of the priestly benediction. “ ” – “May God bless you and guard you” – Rashi says “Sheyitbarchu Nichseh” – “With material blessing.” That is you should be blessed so that God helps your bank account or your stock portfolio. In the words of Seinfeld “There is nothing wrong with that” – at least according to Rashi! 2. “ ” – “God will cause His face to shine upon you” – Rashi reads that as God showing his “Panim Tzahavot” – “bright face” and “Chen” – “His grace.” So the second part of the blessing is that a bank account or a good stock portfolio as important as that is, is not enough. God’s bestowing of a spiritual account is just as critical. And then comes at the end “ ” – “And God will bring you peace” in your lifetime. A perennial longing and perennial wish. Not bad for a blessing. I think better than the Vulcan “live long and prosper!” I like the Birkat Kohanim blessing better.

It is richer and more nuanced.

One last critical question about the use of hands in transmitting and communicating, blessings or otherwise. So who uses their hands more? Jews or Italians in communicating? Well, there is actually a study. It found that both Jews and Italians use their hands in expressive ways to communicate, but in different ways, as do Americans by the way! Americans use most their hands and wrists. Jews use the lower half of their arms most. And Italians have the capacity to use their whole arm and shoulder the most in communicating.

So much for the Vulcan blessing, Jews and Italians, and most importantly of all the priestly benediction which I am sure in your lifetime you will hear over and over again, including this morning for the bar mitzvah and those who celebrate a birthday. Shabbat Shalom.