After the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, Igor Alterman felt a deep sense of meaning and a strong sense of accountability — feelings he carries with him into his new position as the CEO and president of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.

“It became very clear that Oct. 7 changed everything,” Alterman says. “It reminded us that Israel’s security is not just an Israeli issue, it’s a Jewish issue. Under my leadership here, our federation will continue to provide unwavering support, mobilized resources and solidarity for Israel and its people.”

Having been appointed in February, Alterman says he has already begun to lead the federation into a new era. He is known for having an entrepreneurial approach to his work, or in his words, “I disrupt.”

“I am a millennial,” adds the 41-year-old Alterman . “There aren’t that many of us leading the federations and I want to make sure we adapt. The idea of federated giving is very different from the world we live in now, so for us, in order to be compelling, we have to be sure we are speaking to the people who can be excited about us and will respond in a meaningful and thoughtful way.”

With the fight to combat antisemitism at the top of his list — Alterman says that antisemitism right now in America is critical for the federation’s mission — he points to philanthropy and community engagement as keys to his success.

The federation has a unique partnership between lay leaders and professionals, creating a large organization of community members. This allows for outward involvement that Alterman coins as the “secret sauce” for locals to find engagement and meaning in their Jewish life and local community.

There is also the financial aspect, something Alterman does not shy away from.

“Philanthropy is not just a charity, it’s an investment in the Jewish future,” he says. “We must think bigger, act bolder and reimagine how we inspire philanthropy to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. The community makes it possible, and the federation makes it happen.”

As Alterman leads the federation, he is focused on that community, one that has seen a generational shift as of late.

“With the resources and unique character of Jewish Boca and the influx of young families, this notion of Boca being G-d’s waiting room is far behind us,” Alterman says. With more families moving into South Florida than ever before, Alterman hopes to provide a welcoming and vibrant Jewish home for them despite the current state of the world.

Whether families are searching for Jewish day schools for their young children or young adults are looking for opportunities for professional development, Alterman wants the federation to be their resource.

“There is no better organization than the federation to create that structure because we have the scale and access and opportunities,” he says.

The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County bills itself as the largest Jewish campus in the country — its 100-acre Boca Raton campus has K-12 schools, residential living, the Center for Jewish Engagement, and more — and is already a hub for many Jews in the area.

And, as Jewish families move into areas beyond West Boca, like Delray Beach and East Boca, Alterman wants to ensure that their questions are answered and they know where to turn when they want to engage in Jewish life.

Return to South Florida

Alterman was born and raised in the former Soviet Union.

When he was growing up, there was a big push for Russian-speaking Jews to experience a meaningful Jewish life. This allowed Alterman access to programs and education that centered around Judaism. He attended Hebrew Union College in Ohio, earning master’s degrees in both Religious Education and Nonprofit Management.

After leaving Russia in 2008, Alterman and wife Olga Zelzburg Alterman, who also works with Jewish nonprofit groups, eventually found a home in South Florida, where he worked for the University of Miami Hillel.

After that, he took a position as president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, searching for a strong Jewish community that was in need of guidance. He ended up spearheading that federation into a post-Oct. 7 era.

“For the first time in a generation, American Jews all felt a little bit uneasy. We have this perception that this will never happen in America and, all of a sudden, we started seeing horrible scenes at college campuses and in general antisemitism spiked through the roof,” he says. “That’s where the federation was so integral.”

Alterman created communal gatherings and helped commission a strict security infrastructure to ensure the safety of Jewish day-school students. More importantly , though, he created a space for his community to find strength and comfort.

His return to South Florida was much-awaited, he says, and after years building his career, Alterman and his family (he and his wife have two children, ages 9 and 11) are happy to be back.

“It’s the best place to live,” he says. “We are very much South Florida people. We love the lifestyle.”

Now, he’s looking to expand efforts beyond the steps of the federation and provide outlets for the Jewish community to, once again, find joy in being Jewish. Plans to develop intellectual entertainment are in the works, as are new ways for young adults to come together as a community and create friendships that will grow with them and last forever.

“The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is the future of the Jewish people,” he says. “It will become the blueprint of the Jewish community and I’m so excited.”