Kudos to Women’s Tennis
Last month I became a fan of women’s tennis. Here’s why.
In November, Chinese Tennis star Peng Shuai alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a top Chinese government official. Shaui wrote that the trauma left her feeling “like a walking corpse.”
Since making the allegations, her safety has been in doubt and President Biden and the United Nations have expressed concerns. For weeks she was not seen in public and when she did appear on video and in photos, there were questions about their credibility.
To its credit, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has decided, as of now, not to compete in China. Steve Simon, the chairman of WTA insisted that Chinese officials prove Peng is “free and able to speak” and to investigate her charges.
Next week, we read in the Torah of the enslavement of Jews by the Egyptians. History records it will be the first of many times that Jews will become victims of oppressive regimes. Today, Jewish leaders regularly remind us to fight for the rights of the oppressed and remind us of the moral imperatives of striving for liberty and freedom.
Professional sports frequently values profits over morality. When the reverse occurs, it’s worthy of our attention and our applause.
— Rabbi David Woznica
Rabbi David Woznica can be reached via email here.