Shortly before he died in 2009, longtime member Bill Lese and his wife Sahra made an extraordinary gift to jumpstart a major fundraising campaign for Central Synagogue. In honor of that generosity, and of the Lese family’s longstanding commitment to our community, Central Synagogue’s Community House lobby will be named the William M. Lese Lobby.

The lobby space, so often filled with the light-hearted sounds of our Religious School students gathering before and after classes, is a most fitting tribute to Bill’s legacy. He and Sahra shared a love of the Jewish future and demonstrated a firm commitment to Reform Jewish education, which is ever present in this communal space.

The Lese family have been members of Central Synagogue for five generations—in 1872, Bill’s grandfather Morris Steinheimer helped lay the cornerstone of our Sanctuary building. Bill celebrated his bar mitzvah at Central 75 years ago, in 1938. He served as a member of the board of trustees in the 1980s and ’90s. During that time, Bill co-chaired Central’s endowment campaign, galvanizing the effort with a one-million-dollar challenge grant. In recognition of Bill and Sahra’s leadership, the Central Synagogue Religious School was in named in their honor in 1985.

Bill and Sahra’s children and grandchildren are all engaged members of Central. Sahra Lese is extremely active in the synagogue, participating in many adult education classes and occasionally guest-teaching in our Religious School.

Our community is invited to bear witness to this historic dedication, led by Rabbi Rubinstein, during Friday evening Shabbat services on May 3, 2013. Following services, we will celebrate in the newly-dedicated lobby with a festive Kiddush and reception.