How did Gene Roddenberry come up with the live long and prosper sign?

Answer 1

As is the case with cultures co-existing together, it is said that Gene Roddenberry was culturally Jewish. This particular hand gesture is instantly recognisable by the Jewish population as the hand gesture for "shin" a letter in the Hebrew alphabet which is the first letter in the word for peace. In Numbers 6:23, Aaron and his sons were commanded to bless the people with a certain formula. Nu 6:23 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:"The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." ' Nu 6:27 "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." Note that this is the Aaronic Benediction which is read in many Christian congregations also. But the interesting thing is that the Levites were to bless the people with this blessing..then God would bless the people. It is a tradition that the one giving the blessing hold his hand over the congregation in this symbol as he gives this blessing. The word for peace is "shalom" in Hebrew and is spelled shin-lamed-mem. So the gesture is litterally conferring "peace" upon the people. Mr. Roddenberry shortened the blessing down to "live long and prosper" and moved the gesture up. In short, Spock is doing a blessing to anyone he greets this way. It could be said that Vulcans, because they used this greeting, were a whole planet of Jews. It is an interesting bit of folklore...and a fun speculation!