Born in Odessa in the Russian Empire (today in Ukraine), Shekhterman emigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1924.

He studied civil engineering at Ghent University, where he chaired the Jewish Students Organisation, as well as working as a Betar instructor in Antwerp.

In preparation for establishing a Jewish air force, he used his contacts to convince the British Mandate's Department of Civilian Aviation to approve a flight school at an airfield in Lod.

In 1955 he was elected to Tel Aviv city council, remaining a member until 1965 and serving as deputy mayor between 1957 and 1959.

He was re-elected in 1973, by which time Gahal had merged into Likud, but lost his seat in the 1977 elections.