Free Beacon Chairman Receives ZOA’s Ben Hecht Award for Journalism Excellence

Washington Free Beacon Chairman⁣ Receives Prestigious Journalism Award

Washington Free Beacon chairman Michael Goldfarb was honored with the Ben Hecht award for ‍outstanding journalism by the Zionist Organization of America’s Philadelphia chapter on ​Thursday.

During the organization’s annual gala, Goldfarb expressed his⁣ pride in ⁤the Free Beacon‘s ⁢crucial role in the “eternal struggle against the ​enemies of the Jewish ‍people.”

Founded​ in 1897, the ZOA holds the distinction of being the first official Zionist organization in the United States. They commended Goldfarb for his ​instrumental role in establishing​ the Free Beacon in 2012, as well as the ⁣outlet’s comprehensive‌ coverage of issues affecting Israel‍ and the Jewish community.

The Ben Hecht Award: ⁣A Tribute to a Hero

The award is named after Ben Hecht, a prominent‍ 20th-century Chicago newsman and screenwriter. Hecht tirelessly worked to raise awareness about⁣ the Holocaust in the United States during the early 1940s. His unwavering advocacy for a Jewish ‌state made ⁤him ‍a hero among the Zionist resistance in British Mandatory Palestine, but also drew the attention of the ‍British government.

Defending Security, Prosperity, and Freedom

Addressing the ZOA ⁢gala dinner, Goldfarb emphasized that the Free Beacon ‍ is dedicated to defending “security,‌ prosperity, and freedom for the Jewish people.”

He remarked, “The stories we cover at the Free Beacon, and the way we cover them, have not won us any favors with the Pulitzer committee or the White House Correspondents’ Association. However, when recognition is bestowed upon us, it truly holds significant value.”

Goldfarb added, “We do not turn the other cheek. We do not trim our sails. We do not appease. We do not‌ shy away from challenges or confrontation.”

Israel’s ⁢Importance ⁢to America

Goldfarb highlighted that ⁣American supporters of Israel recognize that threats against​ the Jewish people are also threats against the country itself—threats to liberalism, threats‌ to‌ democracy, threats to freedom. He emphasized, “We understand that there are forces in this world that seek ⁣our‌ annihilation.”

He further stated, “No issue reveals more about‌ a candidate than their view of the bond between Israel and the United States.”

“In American politics, we can afford to be wrong about many things. Marginal tax rates. Deficit targets. How much to allocate to different programs,” Goldfarb explained. “However, we cannot afford to be wrong about Israel—a country established as a refuge from evil. A ⁢country whose entire fate still hangs in the balance.”