Three champions of Progressive Judaism have been elected Mayor by their local councils.

Rabbi Danny Rich, Vice President of Liberal Judaism and Senior Rabbi of Southgate Progressive Synagogue, became the 61st Mayor of Barnet after being officially sworn in during the Annual Council Meeting. He has made history as the first rabbi to be appointed as a Labour-run council’s Mayor.

He said: “When I was approached to stand for Barnet Council, I agreed because I saw an opportunity to assist local residents in receiving services, to support voluntary group efforts and to enhance the borough we live in. These remain my objectives as your mayor, and it is my fervent hope to meet as many of you as I can.”

The father of four children, four stepchildren and eight grandchildren, Rabbi Danny added that he was “honoured and delighted” to be taking on the role. His chosen Mayoral charities for the year are Unitas Youth Zone, Jewish Deaf Association and Home-Start Barnet – focussing on youth development, support for the deaf community, and assistance for families in need.

Alexandra Boyd – a Liberal Judaism Officer and member of Wessex Liberal Jewish Community – was elected as Mayor of Wilton, in Wiltshire, and becomes the town’s first Jewish disabled female Mayor.

She founded the Salisbury Women’s Interfaith Group, which fosters dialogue and understanding through regular meetings at Wilton Place Care Home.

She said: “As a resident of Wilton Hill Estate, I am a mother, volunteer, and advocate for inclusion and diversity. Originally from Germany, I moved to the UK in 1992 and now dedicate my time to community work. I want to encourage more public participation in council meetings because the public’s voice matters.”

For her Mayoral Charity, she has chosen Seeds4Success, an organisation that supports young people’s personal growth and development. The charity has played a vital role in providing a safe and encouraging environment, especially for her children, Yoshua and Bella, who are the only Jewish youngsters in the local community.

Alexandra will be supported in her mayoral year by Adrian Boyd, her Mayor’s Consort, as she leads with a focus on community engagement, inclusion and empowerment.

Dan Ozarow was elected Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council. A Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University, he was previously Deputy Mayor.

The new Mayor remains an active member of the Liberal Synagogue Elstree (TLSE), coordinating the town’s Mitzvah Day activities, and he also helped to steer Elstree and Borehamwood’s twin town relationship with Shoham in Israel. He named SPACE Hertfordshire (which supports children and families of neurodivergent children) as his Mayoral charity.

He said: “I want to send a clear message to both our local Jewish and Muslim communities during these times when many are feeling vulnerable and scared, that we stand with you, and that we want to build on the wonderful social action and interfaith dialogue projects that exist in our town.”