Latest news with #IgorAlterman
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Share your stories with me': Meet Jessica Tzikas, the new Jewish Journal editor
Hello readers, I am honored to introduce myself as the new editor of the Jewish Journal at the South Florida Sun Sentinel. As a lifelong member of the South Florida Jewish community, the Jewish Journal has been a staple in my household since before I could even read the pages. I was born and raised in Boca Raton, had my Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth El, and now immerse my own young children in local Jewish life. Growing up in Boca Raton meant that Judaism always surrounded me — whether through the friends I sat next to in class or the extracurriculars I attended after school. Still, I experienced my own share of antisemitism, like when a classmate drew a swastika in my fifth-grade yearbook. But it wasn't until I left the safety of my hometown that I realized just how rare, and special, being Jewish really is. I received my bachelor's degree in editing, writing, and media from Florida State University and quickly moved to Philadelphia after graduation to pursue a master's in publishing from Drexel University. There, I worked as an editor for Philadelphia-based magazines — but while I loved the city, I always felt a strong urge to be home. After five years away, and with a desire to start a family, I moved back to South Florida, knowing it was the best place to raise my children. Since then, I have written for a variety of local publications, covering restaurants, events, and the people who make our area so notable and diverse. When Oct. 7, 2023, happened, an uneasiness washed over me and my career trajectory took a turn. After my daughter's Chabad preschool received a bomb threat, I knew I needed to do more for our community. Raising awareness and continuing to be openly proud to be Jewish didn't feel like enough. I began to focus my writing on Jewish publications, hoping I could help bring a sense of familiarity and belonging to fellow Jews my age. And yet, I still felt I could be doing more. So when the Jewish Journal posted the job for a new editor, I felt it was, as my grandmother always said, 'bashert.' The Jewish Journal has always been a publication that helps local Jews feel connected. As your new editor, I hope to maintain that connection, continuing its legacy of strong storytelling and community building. We are living in a time of uncertainty, especially when it comes to the Jewish lens, and I hope to inspire conversations on both sides of the coin and to address the issues we face as Jews living in a post-Oct. 7 world. But more than that, I hope to bring more awareness to our amazing community, to shine a light on all the meaning we bring to South Florida, and to give you, the reader, a platform to share your stories, both big and small. The landscape of our local community is constantly changing. I had the pleasure of interviewing the new CEO and president of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Igor Alterman, for my inaugural article in the Jewish Journal. We both expressed our shared goal of ushering in a new generation of South Florida Jews and creating a space for the ever-growing numbers of young families and young professionals moving into and growing up in our community. I aim to stay true to the generations who have come before and who laid the foundation for this publication, but to also grow alongside the younger generations and evolve the Jewish Journal into something we can all be proud of. I believe that its success lies within all of you, whether you are a lifelong reader or newly joining us. And I hope that together, we can continue to inspire others and write the narratives that deserve to be told. My inbox is always open — please feel free to reach out with your story, your ideas, or to simply say hello. We should never feel uneasy about telling our Jewish stories. I hope to make the Jewish Journal a space where we can tell them with confidence. Thank you for trusting me as your editor. I look forward to what's next. Jewish Journal editor Jessica Tzikas can be reached at jtzikas@
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New CEO/president Igor Alterman says Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is ‘the future of the Jewish people'
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. 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, commissioned a strict security infrastructure to ensure the safety of Jewish day-school students, and raised almost $1 billion in just seven months to go back into the community. 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.'
