Noa Argamani Inspires Hope at A4BGU Events
Noa Argamani Inspires Hope at A4BGU Events
December 18, 2025
Noa Argamani, a former hostage in Gaza, tells her story at the OFJCC in Palo Alto on Dec. 16. (Aaron Levy-Wolins/J. Staff)
Jewish News of Northern California— Hostage survivor and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) student Noa Argamani shared her story at Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto on Tuesday night at an event co-sponsored by Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU), OFJCC, Jewish Federation Bay Area, and the Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest.
Noa Argamani reflected on her abduction from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, where she was taken captive alongside her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, and later separated from him. She described the fear, uncertainty, and emotional toll of captivity, as well as the strength it took to survive and support fellow hostages, particularly younger girls. She also acknowledged a new tragedy: Sunday’s mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney that killed 15 people and injured another 40.
“This is a reminder that it’s not over yet. The darkness is everywhere. And if we give up, we just lose. We are here to bring more light into the world,” said Noa Argamani at the event with boyfriend Avinatan Or in the audience in Palo Alto. “The fact that I’m here with Avinatan, it’s truly two miracles, when we see how many people we lost and how many chances we had to survive.”
Despite the trauma she endured, Argamani emphasized the importance of hope and collective responsibility. “If we give up, we just lose. We are here to bring more light into the world,” she said.
She also spoke candidly about loss, including the passing of her mother shortly after her return to Israel, and honored those who did not survive captivity. “I didn’t know if she was alive or not,” Argamani said. “Some days in captivity, I just thought ‘I may not see my mother again.’”
Read more on The Jewish News of Northern California>
This event was part of a series of events organized by A4BGU called “Meet Noa Argamani: A Story of Hope and Miracles,” which sold out across Austin, Los Angeles, Seattle, Palo Alto and San Francisco.
Over the last two years, the BGU community has been directly and disproportionally impacted following October 7, and BGU is forging a stronger, more resilient way forward for our students, faculty and community. We hope you will consider getting involved and supporting the University.
By donating today, your generosity will be directed to Ben-Gurion University’s area of greatest need, giving the University the flexibility to respond quickly and make the greatest possible impact where it matters most.
As we continue celebrating Hanukkah, we are reminded of its enduring meaning and relevance today. We hope Noa inspires you to remember that we can each be a part of hope and miracles all around us.
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