When Lillian “Ellie” Feibus started college, she had no intention of following in the footsteps of her mother, Lois Feibus, a preschool teacher. Instead, Ellie Feibus wanted to pursue international law, but a developmental psychology class made her realize that it was “education or nothing.” Now Feibus, 36, is the director of Rodef Shalom Congregation’s Sidney & Shirley C. Rapport Family Center. “My favorite part about the job, I can already answer this, is working with educators who are truly passionate about children and truly passionate about what they do,” said Feibus, who assumed her new role in late June. “It’s an absolute honor, especially as a member of the Orthodox community, to be working in a non-Orthodox environment and feel so accepted and so loved and so cherished.” Feibus succeeded Miriam “Mimsie” Leyton, who was the preschool’s director for 26 years. While Leyton wasn’t directly involved with the search process, she had much to say about Feibus’ character after a week of onboarding.

Photo Credit: Abigail Hakas/Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle