Bad Bunny’s prophetic words set America on edge. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans.” The Torah’s underlying thesis was captured by a Latino singer willing to stand up for fundamental rights. Our tradition reminds us that every human being deserves dignity. Yet, just like the delivery of a prophetic message from a Latino pop star, our Torah text has an odd way of proving that point.
In the middle of Exodus, the Hebrews have just gathered at Sinai, having been released from bondage. They received the Ten Commandments and await further explanation. God instructs Moses to offer more. The very next law is the treatment of the slave. Amazingly, the very people who were freed from slavery by God’s hand need instruction on slavery. The Torah has a deeper and open-eyed understanding that we may not be savages, but humans have an innate ability to act horrifically toward others.
The preface is assumed. As you are part of an ancient economy that uses slave labor, God wants limits on the terms of slavery. Slaves, too, are humans. I don’t read the Torah to permit slavery but rather to upgrade our broken social and economic systems, with the goal of eliminating slavery. The echoes of slavery continue today.
Oppression has long been a part of the human experience. While slavery is prohibited by law, millions are still enslaved, trafficked, and oppressed. The Torah only began our path to repair. Ensuring the dignity of each human remains unfinished. The Torah reminds us that this is a process that requires moral guidance to overcome past sins.
If you are not familiar with Bad Bunny’s music, one theme is the dignity of all people, highlighting the political and societal structures that have oppressed his Puerto Rican community. Perhaps he cares as deeply for people as he does for his own brand. For example, he chose not to tour the United States this year for fear that ICE agents would harass or arrest Latino people attending his shows.
Our role, as Bad Bunny demonstrated, is to use our voices to remind the world how humans should be treated.
Bad Bunny doesn’t show up to fit in; he exercises his humanity to stand out. That is why he is the exact performer I want to see and the message I want to hear at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. For the most-viewed American program, the world needs to know that Bad Bunny represents us, too.
It’s time for all of us to stand up for humanity. On Wednesday, February 11, Jewish groups will lead a demonstration at the ICE headquarters in Washington DC at 1:30 p.m. They, too, will remind the world, like the Torah and Bad Bunny, that we are not savages, we are not animals, and we are not aliens. We are humans.” Each of us should guarantee that every other human is treated with the respect that we expect for ourselves.
I’ll close with another prophetic Bad Bunny quote: “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So, please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love.” – Bad Bunny
Rabbi Evan J. Krame
If this reflection resonates with you, consider sharing it on social media—or simply take a moment to reflect on how you can create a better community.
