Brookwrite

Enterprising Jews

Space... the final shpatzir... to boldly go where no minyan's gone before...

Judaism has a long history in the future of reaching for the stars. The Vulcan salute from Star Trek is famously adapted from Judaism. Many writers for the original series were Jewish. And there are the actors.

Many know that Leonard Nimoy, the original Spock, was Jewish. Almost as many know that the captain himself, William Shatner, is tribal, too. But the list goes on.

Check off Chekov, and check the list twice. Walter Koenig, the original, and Anton Yelchin, the newer -- both Chekovs, born to Russian Jews. Even Winona Ryder, who played Spock's mother the second time around, is one of many guest players who were eligible to have first cut their chops as a bar or bat mitzvah.

With the original series, the Jewish adventure was only beginning. While nobody on Voyager or Enterprise grew up at a seder table, the Passover meal was just another order to Commander Data's alter ego, Brent Spiner.

The four main Ferengi of Deep Space Nine were all Jews, which some deemed controversial. The Ferengi are the Star Trek universe's insidious merchants -- diminutive, annoying, self-important, conniving, and always looking to make a profit. Some believe they're an anti-Semitic portrayal, akin to what many believe of The Merchant of Venice.

Of course, Ferengi existed long before these castings, so the notion is, as one of the four Ferengi actors famously lisped in another fantastical film, inconceivable.

Equally inconceivable is how to apply certain Judaic laws and customs aboard a starship.

For example, Shabbat begins at sunset and ends after the next sunset upon seeing three stars in the sky. In space, how can one witness a sunset? Which sun setting over which planet, and based on what time?

Quite simply, wherever the ship is, at a time pre-determined to sync up with the solar schedule on Earth and matching up with shipboard time, viewscreens are set to show the sun setting on a planet in a nearby system at the appropriate time. Similarly, at the end of Shabbat the same is done, with the assistance of a non-Jewish crewmember operating the controls.

As for seeing three stars, some insist on closing all portals for Shabbat so no stars are seen until the appropriate time after sunset.

Non-Jewish crewmembers take Shabbat rotations. However, many circumstances fall under the "to save a life" clause, including battles and not being able to shut down all ship's power from sunset to sunset. Because... life support.

Speaking of supporting life, there is little Jewish practice without food. Recreation rooms on the Enterprise always have three food dispensers. One each for dairy, meat, and pareve. Astute observers will note that food dispenser trios sometimes temporarily appear in random places throughout the ship. The reason is simple: they were specifically for Passover. After all, what's the only food ever seen coming out of a dispenser in the transporter room? Chicken soup.

What about off ship? The Klingon Culinary Conflict of 2263, where they were given the rules of kashrut to accommodate the devoutly Jewish ambassador. After two pages of restrictions, the Klingons cancelled the diplomatic meeting, setting relations back several years.

When praying, Jews must face east, symbolically toward Jerusalem. Three times a day, the helmsman has to swing the ship around so it's facing the eastern part of Earth for minyan. When mission requirements prevent that, facing galactic east is allowed. Rotating the ship simplifies the question of which way to face within the ship, and especially if there's a course change.

Jewish rituals also provide simple explanations to certain oddities seen throughout the mission.

For example, ships orbit facing eastward so they can remain in orbit during minyan without continual reorientation.

Also, math. The Enterprise was on a five-year mission. However, Star Trek was cancelled after three seasons. The numbers reconcile more than people realize. Subtract five years worth of Shabbats and holidays (including the minor ones)... Three years.

Doug Brook included Winona Ryder, even though she had just one brief appearance in the franchise, because she's always been on his list of five. It's laminated. To read past columns, visit http://brookwrite.com/. For exclusive online content, like facebook.com/rearpewmirror.