In Memoriam: Isaac Alteras (1937-2022)

Queens College Professor of History

It is with sadness that the History department announces the passing of emeritus Professor Isaac Alteras, who died recently after a long illness. Isaac was an esteemed member of our department and an internationally recognized historian of US and Israeli foreign policy. He joined the History program at Queens in 1967 as a lecturer and worked his way up to full Professor. He was also formerly director of Jewish Studies and active in the MALS program.

After getting his BA from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Isaac became a true product of CUNY. In 1965 he earned his MA at Queens with a thesis on Jewish physicians in Spain and southern France in the 13th and 14th centuries. He then transitioned to more recent history, writing a dissertation at the Graduate Center on post-World War I Germany and the Geneva disarmament conference. He was best known for his book Eisenhower and Israel: US-Israeli Relations, 1953-1960 (University of Florida Press, 1993). Over the years, many students passed through his courses on the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Cold War, and other topics in modern Middle Eastern, Jewish, and European history. Isaac loved to talk current events and always brought a certain flair to our department. We will miss him.

Isaac was buried at a private ceremony in Elmont, NY. Condolences can be sent to his family at ialteras@aol.com