The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute unveiled "Jewish+Female=Athlete" on Sunday, a new exhibit that explores the historic and contemporary achievements of Jewish women in sports. The exhibit will begin touring nationally after a five-week stay here, and the HBI is showcasing a new calendar featuring athletes to raise awareness of Jewish women's achievements in athletics. The exhibit highlights a selection of past athletes who paved the way for future Jewish women athletes, as well as notable Jewish women who excel in today's sports. Three of the women featured in the exhibit-Wimbledon tennis champ Angela Buxton, Olympic cyclist Nicole Freedman, and Olympic ice hockey star Sara DeCosta-Hayes-attended the event and spoke on their unique experiences as athletes.

Buxton keynoted the event, speaking of her unique experiences as a Jewish tennis player in post-World War II Britain. She recalled the many instances of blatant anti-Semitism that she encountered as a rising young talent in the tennis community, and said that she was constantly motivated by the need to overcome these factors.

"I knew that I would have to work twice as hard as everyone else," Buxton said. "I always thought that if I could hit the ball over the net just enough times, then there was nothing they could keep away from me."

It was apparent from her speech that Buxton had decided to gear her message toward the difficulties that she and others like her faced as they paved the way for future Jewish athletes, and not on what she is most famous for: winning the 1956 Wimbeldon championship with doubles partner Althea Gibson. Buxton's partnership with Gibson, who is black and was another outcast from tennis circles, and their long-lasting friendship are the topic for the recent book The Match by Bruce Schoenfeld.

Buxton said her story is relevant today not just because of the struggles she and others faced, but also because anti-Semitism in sports, no mater how subtly enacted, is still an issue in countries like Britain and exclusive clubs like Wimbeldon, which has yet to allow Buxton membership.

"I've been on the waiting list for [over forty] years now," Buxton said. "They just keep telling me to be patient."

HBI board member Debs Weinberg, who hosted the event, gave a plea to Brandeis students and parents to reverse old prejudices.

"I hope the next time you meet a woman, you will automatically assume she is a great Jewish athlete," she said.

Jennicka Hornung '07, a member of the women's tennis team who attended the event, said she was inspired by Buxton and the other athletes.

"[Buxton] was sort of like the Rosa Parks for tennis," Hornung said. "I mean, even today, there's still a lot of snobbery around the sport of tennis. So to have a Jewish woman and an African American woman playing together back then, it's absolutely remarkable.