was born into it.” Lezlie is second generation Canadian born of Yiddish-speaking parents and grandparents who left Belarus to forge a safer and more secure life in Edmonton, prior to the Holocaust. “My mother was part of that generation of pioneer women who built the Jewish community to the place of strength it is today.”
Lezlie’s parents were both very involved locally and ardent Zionists. Her Yiddish name is Golda Leiba and Meir was her maiden name, sharing the same name of one of her role models, Israel Prime Minister Golda Meir. “I identified with Golda Meir’s strength and strong commitment to the State of Israel, characteristics that I also saw in my mother and grandmother. I remember when Golda Meir passed away; my mother and I mourned her together, holding each other and crying.” Lezlie met her husband Miguel on a blind date, one summer in Edmonton where he
Lezlie and Miguel Poyastro
was playing basketball for the Israel team in the World Student Games. He and his family are Cuban Americans, Sephardim of Turkish descent. The rest, as they say, is history. They had two children and raised their son and daughter in the vibrant Jewish community of Miami, specifically south Dade. She and her family are members of Temple Beth Am and Lezlie and Miguel were also founding members of Bet Shira and Chabad of Kendall. Lezlie credits Adrian Dubow for first getting her involved in Federation. Adrian invited her to Women’s
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