"Star Trek," Judaism, and No-Win Situations

The Trek storyline that speaks to me most on this theme traces the relationship of Spock’s father, Sarek, and Jean-Luc Picard in the Next Generation episode called “Sarek.” When the hyperlogical Vulcan ambassador visits The Enterprise on his way to negotiating a delicate treaty, Picard discovers that he is suffering from Bendii Syndrome, which humiliates older Vulcans by involuntarily releasing their long-repressed emotions. Picard, sensitive to what this means to the reputation and self-image of the ambassador, supports him through a mind-link in which the captain temporarily and excruciatingly contains the overwhelming feelings so that Sarek can go about his diplomatic business. What Picard does, briefly, highlights what the true caregivers, Sarek’s wife and aides, must do on an ongoing basis. Eventually, it must be presumed that all forms of support will be insufficient, and even the greatest proponent of logic and self-control in the galaxy will be forced to yield to the Kobayashi Maru of life.