The New Israel Fund is delighted to announce the inaugural year of the William S. Goldman Truth to Power Award. This new prize will be awarded annually to individuals that stand up for truth and give voice to the silenced, often at great personal, organizational, financial or reputational risk.
Founded in 2018, the Truth to Power Foundation is a wholly controlled supporting organization of the New Israel Fund established to honor the memory of beloved NIF Board member William S. Goldman. Bill was a cherished part of the NIF community, and a bold supporter of progressive values in the public sphere. On the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017, when so many in our camp were teetering on the edge of despair, Bill proclaimed these bold words:
“Now is our moment, in our millions, to demonstrate the courage of our convictions, to push back constantly against the waves of darkness. It will not be fun. It will not be easy. But it will be done, and we will be the ones to do it. Let us escape from our complacent lives, let us overcome our fear and our terror. Let us give our lives lasting meaning beyond what we believed possible. We did not choose to be alive at this time of great upheaval. This time chose us, and we turn, our shoulders squared, to meet it.”
This award seeks to honor Bill’s memory and honor the activists that chose to fight for a brighter tomorrow day in and day out.
Watch our 2023 Recipient, Nasser Nawaj’ah receive the award
Nasser Nawaj’ah, 2023 Winner
As a field researcher and lifelong activist, Nasser has been instrumental in recording the many human rights abuses committed by the Israel Defense Forces and settlers around Hebron. For his efforts, he has been targeted repeatedly by settlers and the Shin Bet (Israel’s domestic intelligence agency), and arrested without charges many times.
Despite this harassment, Nasser has never given up— or given in. Even after being arrested and threatened by the Shin Bet to “stop causing trouble,” he has refused. He is a thorn in the side of the Occupation and those who seek to perpetuate its violence.