Rabbi Eleazar said: Any leader who guides a community gently will merit guiding it in the world to come.
Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 92A

A Brief Biography

Rabbi Schwab was ordained at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 1985. He interned for two years at Isaac Mayer Wise Congregation in Cincinnati, often preaching at the Plum Street Temple, a national historic site founded by the father of Reform Judaism in America. Before coming to Temple Beth Shalom, Rabbi Schwab served the Sunrise Jewish Congregation of Sacramento, California, for ten years.

Since their arrival, Rabbi Schwab and his wife, Janet, have become an integral part of the Santa Fe Jewish community. Both of them are determined to maintain the warmth and congeniality of a small congregation even as Temple Beth Shalom grows larger. Janet has demonstrated her unique energy and skill in many ways, from making our annual community calendar a financial success to assisting the office staff with their administrative questions. Rabbi Schwab’s intensely optimistic vision of the future has already had a significant impact on the outlook and strategic plans of our congregation. Under his leadership, Temple Beth Shalom will continue to move from strength to strength.

Unlike many of his colleagues, Marvin Schwab did not set out to become a rabbi. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in zoology, Marvin followed a secular path for twelve years, working first as a medical technician and later in computer quality control. But the study of Talmud and the traditions of Judaism exerted an inexorable pull and a 1979 trip to Israel with his friend, Rabbi David Lieb proved to be a life-changing experience. It is fortunate for the Jewish world that Rabbi Schwab’s unique blend of humor and seriousness is now directed toward his invaluable rabbinic work.

Rabbi Schwab in his own words: A Personal Statement

Judaism is the art of enriching our lives, of investing transitory moments with lasting meaning and relevance. It is an attempt to create permanent change in the individual and the community. As a rabbi, I must reach the members of the community in ways that can be personalized and internalized while bearing in mind that my constituency varies widely in age, political orientation, personal needs and interests, even in its relationship to Judaism. I must serve as a bridge between these groups and, through vision, energy, and responsive leadership, produce a commonality of purpose and goals.

I visualize the synagogue as center for Jewish life: a vehicle for melding individuals into an involved community. By being a visible and active force, I can make an important statement to both the outside world and my congregation: “We are here, we are involved, we are a vital part of this community.” It is my privilege, through all the varied activities that make the rabbinate such a challenge, to further the goals of Judaism by weaving together the many strands that make up a congregation into a seamless tapestry, allowing us to remain connected to our tradition while functioning well and meaningfully in the world.