Mazi Melesa Pilip has lived the American Dream. 

The daughter of Orthodox Jewish parents, Mazi grew up in a rural village in Ethiopia that didn’t even have running water.  At the age of 12, Mazi immigrated to Israel with her family as part of Operation Solomon and would later enter the Israel Defense Force, serving in the IDF’s elite Paratrooper Brigade.  Following her military service, Mazi earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Haifa and a masters degree from Tel Aviv University.  

After defending Israel’s freedom and attending college, Mazi immigrated to the United States and settled in Great Neck, New York, located on the North Shore of Nassau County, where she would commit herself to giving back to her community and neighbors.  Mazi was elected as the candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties to the Nassau County Legislature in 2021. 

As a member of the County Legislature, Mazi has made the revitalization of the broader Great Neck community a top priority, along with investments in public safety, access to quality health care and combatting antisemitism.  Mazi Pilip has held the line on property taxes and worked to help local businesses recover following the pandemic.  This November, voters re-elected Mazi to the County Legislature by an overwhelming margin. 

In addition to her service in the Nassau County Legislature, Mazi is actively involved in a variety of community organizations and causes – including serving as an active member of her synagogue, as well as serving as a surrogate in support of Israel.  Mazi and her husband, Adalbert, are the proud parents to their seven children.