New mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood looks forward to ‘a new era’ following ‘years of antisemitic abuse’ - The Jewish Chronicle

The new mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood has said that his election comes five years after he thought he was “finished” in the area following a “horrendous” campaign of antisemitism.

Councillor Dan Ozarow, who has been the borough’s deputy mayor for the past year, was elected mayor at the civil parish’s AGM last week. He takes over the role from Councillor Alpha Collins.

Ozarow, who is a member of the Liberal Synagogue Elstree, said he and his family were subjected to years of “abuse, threats and harassment”, which began in 2020, when he stood in a council by-election.

In an emotional acceptance speech, he paid tribute to his supporters, saying: “[It] was the resilience of so many local people to get through their own daily struggles that inspired me to fight back, as well as the solidarity and love from so many of you that convinced me to carry on. We have got here together, and I will never forget it.”

Ozarow, 45, said that his election marked “a new era of community consensus in this town hall”, adding: “Yes, we will have our disagreements between us both in this building or on social media, and that is right and proper. But the age of Punch and Judy politics is over in Elstree and Borehamwood. The age of political toxicity is over.”

A popular community figure, Ozarow, who is a senior lecturer at Middlesex University, has helped coordinate campaigns to defend the local green belt, increase NHS provision, resolve flooding hotspots, reduce the number of empty homes and protect local nature haven, Aldenham Reservoir.

Mayor Dan Ozarow meets members of the Munder family and one of the coordinators of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum UK, Nivi Feldman, on their visit to the Liberal Synagogue in Elstree[Missing Credit]

Choosing SPACE Hertfordshire3, which supports children and families of neurodivergent children, as his mayoral charity, he has also previously coordinated the town’s Mitzvah Day activities and helped to steer Elstree and Borehamwood’s twin town relationship with Shoham in Israel.

Elstree and Borehamwood is home to the fastest-growing Jewish community in Europe and a fifth of its 41,000 residents declared themselves to be Jewish in the 2021 Census.

Ozarow expressed his concern that the Shoham twinning sign had been repeatedly graffitied and said he wanted “to be there for the Jewish community”, having attended a number of the weekly local vigils for the hostages still held in Gaza.

Last February, he met former hostages, Ohad, nine, and his mother, Keren, who were released during the first ceasefire deal. Ohad’s grandmother, Ruti, was also freed, but his grandfather, Avraham, 79, was killed in captivity.

But Ozarow added that interfaith would be at the heart of his mayoral year, and, in a bid to strengthen ties between different communities, has appointed Rabbi Gershon Silins of the Liberal Synagogue Elstree and Brother Amir Choudhury from Borehamwood Islamic Society as his mayoral chaplains.

Dan with incoming deputy mayor. Tushar Kumar, and Brother Amir. The latter is a new mayoral chaplain[Missing Credit]

Ozarow said: “I want to send a clear message to both our local Muslim and Jewish communities during these times when many are feeling vulnerable and scared, that we stand with you.

“I was delighted that [Rabbi Gershon Silins and Brother Amir Choudhury] were both pleased to share the role and wish to use it as a platform to build on the wonderful social action and interfaith dialogue projects that exist in our town.”

Dan Ozarow with mayoral chaplain RabbiGershon Silins[Missing Credit]

Speaking to the JC after his election, Ozarow said: “It feels fantastic to be mayor. I feel very proud. I love this town and feel privileged to serve people in this role.”

Meanwhile Councillor Tushar Kumar was elected as deputy mayor. At 22 years-old, he is believed to be the youngest person ever to hold that position.

Dan and incomng Deputy Mayor Tushar Kumar[Missing Credit]

In May 2023, Labour took control of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council for the first time since 2007. The Council is made up of eight Labour Councillors, three Conservatives and two Independents who recently left Labour.

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Elstree & Borehamwood