Leon Charney was born in Lithuania, arrived in South Africa aged 7 in 1936. He qualified as an architect in 1952. In South Africa Leon was active in the Betar Youth Movement from age 10 and was head of the movement in 1952/3. He and his wife Menorah and three sons came on aliyah in 1961. His daughter Shani was born in Israel. 

In Israel Leon has been active in many public ways: President of Rotary Savyon; elected to first Savyon Council 1964; public representative on the District Planning Committee 1965 – 1972. Leon has also been active in Telfed since 1968, was chairman 1986-1990 and president of the Board of Governors since 2014.