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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920
Vol. LXV No. 5 Omaha, Nebr.
23 TUhrl, 5748 Friday, Oct. 16, 19S7
Cece Zorinsky seeks office as candidate of substance Editor's Note: Although Cece Zorinsky has not offldally announced her candidacy for the House of Representatives, writer Lynda Frank approaches her story with the assumption that Mrs. Zorinsky will indeed announce her caadidacy shprtly. By Lynda Frank The platinutn page-boy and warm smile may have become Cece Zorinsky's trade marks, but she is not just a pretty face. She is a woman of substance who truly cares about people and the environment. She is proud of being Jewish, and has been active in the community—and she makes a great tuna cassercHe when friends come to lunch. She also is a candidate for the House of Representatives. Bom in Denver of Russian immigrants, Mrs. Zorinsky was raised in a conservative Jewish home. Her father was a pharmacist who worked seven days a week at the drugstore he owned. Her mother kept a kosher ' home, a practice Mrs. Zorinsky followed until her mother died. Although girls at that time did not become a bat mitzvah, Mrs. Zorinsky attended Hebrew school. "I was practically the only girl going to Hebrew school because my parents insisted. There were no other Jewish kids in my grade school, so I had to leave all my friends after school and take a bus," she said. Mrs. Zorinsky was lured to Nebraska by Eunice Denenberg, whom she had met at a ' camp for Jewish college students in California. Mrs. Zorinsky had attended college in Colorado but also had worked to save money to go away to school somewhere. Mrs. Denenberg convinced her she would like the people here and Mrs. Zorinsky came to the University of Nebraska. "She was so right... people were friendly, warm, gracious and outgoing, I
(ice Zorinsky couldn't believe it," Mrs. Zorinsky said. Ed Zorinsky's sister, Esther, was her sorority sister at UNL and introduced the two. When Cece and Ed married, "I never thought,Ed would get into politics." She had always paid attention to politics and had worked on Adlai Stevenson's campaign in 1952 and Ed worked on other peoples' campaigns, but she was surprised when Ed announced he was running for the OPPD board. "Against all odds, he won," she added. When her husband became mayor of Omaha, Mrs. Zorinsky represented him at many functions and while he was a Senator she had a desk in his office where she worked as a non-paid member of his staff. Being in the office she was tuned in to what was goiiig on politically and how much work was involved. She also was active in the International Neighbors Club and the Congressional Wives Group. After 10 years in Washington, Mrs, Zorinsky became well'acquainted with those people who wield power and influence. When her husband died suddenly last winter, many of these people were among those who thought she should complete his term. Even her mother-in-law, still grieving over
the loss of her son, supported this effort. Although she hadn't considered a political life for herself, she heeded the advice of a friend in Miami who told her to keep her options open. When Mrs. Zorinsky went back to Washington to close her husband's office and their apartment, she confided, "I thought I wouldn't want to be in Washington without Ed." However, in subsequent trips back to the capitol, Mrs. Zorinsky found that she still had many friends and contacts in the city. After her husband's death, she was offered a variety of consulting jobs but turned them down because she didn't want to use her contacts to make a profit for herself. After reading over 3,500 letters from people who either had been helped by her husband or were asking for help, Mrs. Zorinsky began to seriously consider running for public office. "I really felt for these people and wanted to help, but I had no power." •The decision to announce her candidacy for the House of Representatives was based on the number of people encouraging her and because "it seemed like the right thing to do. I decided I had something to offer, I had contacts and I wanted to meike a difference. I *ant to do something productive and help others." Mrs. Zorinsky, who is in the midst of organizing a small campaign staff, chose to run for office even though she knows the hard work and long hours which go with the position. "I am so used to this kind of pace, it's hard to get off the treadmill. Besides, I function bettet when I'm busy." She also knows that being the candidate, instead of the candidate's wife, she will constantly be in the spotlight and be a target for criticism.
"Criticism just makes me work harder ... 1 know there are so many gray sides to issues and that I can't please everyone." Although name recognition is a strong asset in her campaign, she said she must overcome being known only as the wife of Ed Zorinsky. "I learned more than I realized from Ed, but I am a person in my own right and I have my own ideas, opinions and information. I want the opportunity to serve and I think I can do a good job." Like her husband, Mrs. Zorinsky promises to be honest, hard-working and accessible. "I want to continue the open-door policy that Ed had, including taking the door off (Ed Zorinsky took the door off of the mayor's office and his senate office:) Too many politicians aren't even accessible to their own staff," she said. "One of the best things about being in the House of Representatives is that your home is still your district. .. unlike with senators who can usually comeTjack to the state only during a recess, representatives have long weekends when they can come back home and talk to their constituents." It is too early to predict what issues will be involved in the campaign. However, Mrs. Zorinsky said she will Cipntinue her involvement in environmental problems. "It's not a pretty issue, but it is an important one. We must conserve our resources. Landfills, chemical waste and the pollution of water and air are a real concern." Mrs. Zorinsky said that so far reaction toher candidacy has been very favorable. "I have received support from people all over the state and many of those who worked on Ed's campaigns are asking to help. "The Jewish community has been wonderftil and wants to help and support me. That is very gratifying."
Four Lincoln women discuss leadership roles »
By Lynda Frank Lincoki, Nebraska ... where the state's first female governor reigns. Also, where Nebraska's first female rabbi practices and where the presidents of the city's Jewish Federation, temple and synagogue are also female. Deborah I^pe-Mazo always wanted to be involved in the Jewish community but, "At the time I was brought up women were not allowed to have formal Jewish positions so I never knew what was available to me." While attending Brandeis University, she met her husband, Gary Mazo, who introduced her to the Reform movement. Through involvement in that she realized, "My Jewish leadership skills and my desires and ambitions could have an outlet." She chose to become a rabbi because of her commitment and love of Judaism and her desire to teach and spread Judaism. Also, she would like to be "a model for women to become involved in Judaism. It's only in the last 20 years that Judaism has allowed women leadership positions in the community and I want to be part of that change," she said. A third year student at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, she is taking a one-year sabbatical to work as chaplain at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. The Cherryhill, N.J., native also commutes to Lincoln every other weekend. Rabbi Pipe-Mazo chose Lincoln because "it is classical and progressive." That sentiment was also expressed by Marsha Plotkin, president of the South Street Temple. "Overall," she said, "Lincohi is a progressive city. PoUtically, women have been in the forefront. We live in a community that accepts women in leadership roles." Ms. Plotkin, the third woman to be president of Temple, has Uved in Lincoln for 10 years. Originally from Milwaukee, Ms. Plotkin came to Omaha 22 years ago to work at the Jewish Conomunity Center as BBYO/Youth Director. • "That's where I learned the most about Judaism," she noted. She is a past president of B'nai B'rith Women in Omaha and still maintains that membership. She is also a member of Hadassah and several community groups. Ms. Plotkin has also baen involved with the Jewish Federation Cam-
was active in the Jewish community and "taught and encouraged me to become involved." Since then, she has worked on Sisterhood, Hadassah and the Federation. "My husband is still encouraging me and being supportive," she said. These four women are publicly recognized Jewish leaders but, they stressed, they art not the first female Jewish leaders. They said women have always been leaders in the Jewish community. "Before Women took leadership roles they were the driving force behind men," Mrs. Hoffman explained. She went on to comment that women were the ones to make phone calls to arrange meetings, to serve the food and do the cleaning. "Women have inherently been leaders but not acknowledged by males or females," Ms. Plotkin added. The rabbi agreed, noting, "Women have always had leadership roles in the Jewish community because they were responPictured from left are Eve Hoffman, Rabbi Deborah Pipe- sible for Jewish education in tnehome. These women should Mazo, Betty Polsky and Marsha Plotkin. receive recognition Judaically for teaching children Jewpaign for three years, serving as overall chairman for one ish values at home." Times and attitudes are changing. Mrs. Hoffman said at her synagogue, "A large number of year and as women's chairman for two years. Ms. Plotkin, who is single, is not only a full-time volun- women are Torah readers and they accept women for Coteer, she also works full-time for the Department of Social hen and Levite Aliyote, even for the first three." She exServices. "Pa^l; of my volunteering is because someone's plained what used to be passed on from father to son can got to do it. I believe in being an example by doing and now also be passed on frpm,father to daughter. hope that other people will follow." She said by doing this The congregation at B'nai Jeshurun (South Street Temple) has readily accepted Rabbi Pipe-Mazo. She Said she she has already seen a more active board. Eve Hoftman, married to an allergist and the mother of is "looked at as a student rabbi and no sexism is involved. three sons, is serving her second year as Tifereth Israel Syn- I have been well received and have had no complaints." Of course, all this is still somewhat innovative and the agogue president. When she moved to Lincohi 11 years ago, she was approached not only to join the Sisterhood but to women do run into a few problems. As Ms. Plotkin said, be vice president. She served in that capacity for two years. "We still have our hangups." For example, the rabbi When the president was forced to resign for medical rea- pointed out, there is still more pressure on women studysons, Mrs. Hoffman became Sisterhood president. Now she ing for the rabbinate and Mrs. Hoffman said that some men will go to her male vice president with complaints rather is president of the whole congregation. Federation president Betty Polsky is also married and than coming to her. has two grown children. Raised in a small Nebraska town Mrs. Polsky said women as leaders "seems so natural, where hers was the only Jewish family, Mrs. Polsky came like when women began to vote or women's suffrage. We've to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska She joined proven we have the time and the ability and there's no reaa Jewish sorority and also met Hyman Polsky. Mr. Polsky son it can't be ongoing." ,irtiJiitSi*>SiaH
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