 He has also been a vice president of the World Jewish Congress and chairman of the board of governors of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.Gaon's career in trade began as a trader of burlap bags, crocodile and snake skins in colonial Sudan before graduating to peanut and edible oils trade.When the British relinquished power in Sudan, subsequent increase in nationalism precipitated the exile of many members of the Jewish community in Khartoum.