Tonight’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh, is focused on the priestly
raiments. We learn about the Ephod, the Breastpiece, the robe, a fringed tunic,
headdress and sash, the kinds of yarns that are to be used and metals and gems
for adornment. There was a whole lot of
commentary connected to this Torah partion today with people arguing about
whether the priestly dress was white and gold or instead blue and black!
After describing the priestly vestments, the Torah speaks of
the method of consecration, of the sacrificial practices that must be
performed. Finally, we hear of where God will meet with the priests, in the
Tent of Meeting which will be sanctified by God’s presence.
The specifics of the discussion of priestly garments are not
directly appropriate to the matters of the day, or perhaps considering the many
discussions about the color of that dress, all too appropriate. Yet, the Torah which
was taught this afternoon was indeed connected to the priests. It focused on
the Priestly Benediction and the hand gesture of the character Spock from Star
Trek. The much beloved actor who portrayed Spock, Leonard Nimoy, passed away today
at the age of 83.
Leonard Nimoy, who grew up Orthodox in Boston to Ukrainian
immigrant parents, helped to bring Jewish ideals into millions of homes through
Star Trek. Nimoy, actor, director, photographer, poet, ended up so connected to
the character of Spock that he struggled to make his own way. His two
autobiographies were entitled, “I am not Spock,” published in 1977 and “I am
Spock,” published in 1995.
Star Trek, which debuted September 8, 1966 took on the social
issues of the day though a campy sci-fi show set in the distant future. Star
Trek challenged numerous social norms from women’s rights, to race, equality
and much more. Spock’s character presented and represented several challenges
to social norms.
Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, called him the
“conscience of Star Trek.” Spock was a vehicle used to bring science and reason
to confront human emotional reactions and beliefs. Whenever a prejudice or some
aspect of faith impacted a storyline, Spock was there to squash it or to highlight
it.
My favorite Spock scene is one from the movie Wrath of Khan.
Spoiler alert, I’m going to tell you how the movie ends. Plug your ears if
you’d rather not hear.
The ship was crippled and the only way to save it was for
Spock to enter a room full of a lethal level of radiation. The doctor
discouraged Spock from entering. Spock incapacitated him, entered, and saved
the ship along with all those onboard. When Captain Kirk arrived and interacted
with Spock as he lay dying, Leonard Nimoy’s character explained himself by
saying that, “Don’t grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many
outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. I have been and always shall be your
friend. Live long and prosper."
It’s a very Kantian message, based in science and reason.
Star Trek’s real message, however, is in Captain Kirk’s
response, the Jewish response, set up by Spock’s statement. It is found in the
following movie, “The Search for Spock,” which was directed by Nimoy. In it, the crew takes a great risk to recover
Spock’s now resurrected body from "The Genesis Planet," I won’t even bother to comment on the obvious
religious overtones of that.
Spock, not remembering what happened, asks Kirk, “Why would
you do this?” “Why go through this great risk, put the whole crew at risk, to
help me?” Captain Kirk responds with a rabbinical statement, “Because the needs
of the one, outweigh the needs of the many.” It is a statement based on Mishnah
Sanhedrin, which teaches, “Whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved an
entire world.”
Nimoy’s character, Spock, was part of an inter-racial family--well, actually an inter-species family. Spock was part human and part Vulcan.
His character and its narrative of nearly five decades of Star Trek episodes
and movies about his character, helped people understand mixed-race,
multi-cultural, and interfaith families. We followed many story lines about
religious rites, cultural stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice. Star Trek
taught tolerance and did so significantly through the character of Spock.
Spock showed that geeks could be leaders and helped make
science cool. His was a character far ahead of his time, beloved by science
fiction fans from the start.
Star Trek’s theme in its early incarnation was “To boldly go
where no one has gone before.” The statement was about exploration, about human
adventure. In retrospect, it was also what the show did in confronting the
accepted ideas of its day. It was bold.
Commander Spock’s character, Start Trek
as a show, and Leonard Nimoy throughout his life, went boldly forward and urged
us to follow. “Lekh lekha!” Get up and boldly go from where you are used to
being and what you are used to having around you. Things are going to change!
It was a biblical message. It was the message of the 1960s. It was a Jewish
message.
Today, was a day that fans of Star Trek have long dreaded.
Leonard Nimoy’s Spock is now truly dead, not to be resurrected in the next
movie.
His memory lives on. It was something special today, seeing
people all around the world sharing a Jewish sign, the Priestly Benediction,
with one another? How meaningful on this day of political argument, of fears of
terrorism, of division, that so many offered each other a blessing? “Live long
and prosper!”
Leonard Nimoy will always be remembered for his portrayal of the
character of Spock, for his on stage portrayal of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof,
for his love of Judaism and for the many things he taught us all about how to
live, to be proud of our Judaism, and to care for one another.
Live long and prosper, my friends. Live long and prosper!
Shabbat Shalom.
