For Naomi Oelbaum, discovering BGU happened gradually, over years of being surrounded by a family deeply connected to the university.

She was just 18 when she and her now-husband, Mitchell Oelbaum, first became friends. In those early years, simply spending time at the Oelbaum family home meant being surrounded by BGU with pamphlets on the kitchen table, event invitations, and plaques recognizing decades of support. The Oelbaum family's connection to the university spans generations. Mitchell’s grandparents were among its early Canadian founders, and his father, Ronald Oelbaum z”l, went on to serve as President of both the Toronto Chapter and the National Board of Directors. Mitchell himself also served as National President of BGU Canada.

What began as something Naomi encountered through the Oelbaum family became something she wanted to understand for herself. The more she learned about the university, its people, and its role in the Negev, the more she found herself drawn to it, struck especially by BGU's founding philosophy, rooted in David Ben-Gurion's vision that Israel's future depended on developing the desert region through research directly tied to social action and regional transformation. She saw that philosophy lived out in Be'er Sheva itself: partnerships with local high schools, support for elderly residents, students from around the world, and small but telling gestures like distributing challah and fruit to those in need on Shabbat.

A story that stays with her

One story Naomi returns to often is that of a young Bedouin woman the university reached out to years ago. Admitting her to school was not an easy process. Before anything could move forward, the school first had to sit down with the family elder, her grandfather, to reassure him this was the right path for her, against real traditional pressures. That woman was Dr. Rania Okby, who went on to become the world’s first female Bedouin physician. Today, she practices as an obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in high-risk pregnancies and multiple births. This has opened the door for other girls and women from her community to pursue medicine and science. For Naomi, it is a story that captures exactly what BGU’s values look like in practice.

Building a community from a distance

Naomi joined the Toronto board in 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was reshaping how people connected with one another. Rather than let that distance become a barrier for BGU Canda, Naomi and her co-chair Deborah Siegel saw an opportunity and came up with the idea for what became BGU Canada’s Literary Series: In Conversation with Israeli Authors. The series ran for three years, bringing people together across the country to read and discuss Israeli authors with several joining as online guests to speak directly to participants. It became one of the organization’s major successes of the pandemic years, built entirely around Naomi and Deborah’s instinct to connect people back to BGU.

Toronto co-president and gala leadership

In 2021, Naomi stepped into the role of Co-President of the Toronto Regional Board alongside David Dulberg, a position she held for nearly five years. She also served as Co-Chair of BGU Canada Toronto’s premiere gala, helping drive one of the organizations most memorable events. “The Future Is Now” Gala in November 2022, held in support of the Medical Simulation Building at BGU and featuring Michael J. Fox, was a turning point for BGU Canada’s fundraising ambitions in Toronto.

What keeps her involved

Ask Naomi what she loves most about being part of BGU Canada, and the answer isn’t a program or an event. It’s the people. She points to a team that is hardworking, devoted, and hands-on, and to the strong direction set by both former CEO Mark Mendelson z”l and current CEO Andrea Freedman nationally, and Vice President Shimmy Wenner in Toronto. She also speaks warmly about the access and closeness BGU Canada has with the University President, Daniel Chamovitz, and Vice President for Public Affairs and Resource Development, Jeff Kay, built on their genuine care for the contributions and interest of supporters in Canada. Along the way, she built real friendships through this work – relationships that have become as meaningful to her as the mission itself.

Looking ahead, Naomi is clear about what she’d like to see: more people getting involved, in ways big and small. As she puts it, “everyone has something to offer, and BGU Canada’s community is as brilliant and diverse as they come.”

After nearly five years as Co-President, BGU Canada Toronto extends its deepest gratitude to Naomi for her dedication, her leadership, and the lasting impact she has had on this community.

Naomi is Past President of the Toronto Regional Board and currently serves on BGU Canada’s National Board and International Board of Governors.