Cantor Ellen Schwab brings a deep love of music and Jewish life to the Beth Israel-Judea family. She joined the congregation as Cantor in the summer of 2005.
Previously she served as Cantor at Temple Beth El and Center in San Pedro, Calif., Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio, and most recently for eighteen years at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo.
Cantor Ellen derives great pleasure and spiritual uplift from her teaching of young
people, and her chanting of services. She recently offered a class to teach adults Torah chanting.
Here's Cantor Ellen's column from the BIJ Bulletin, Nov./Dec. 2007
With the final T’kiah G’dolah, amid the smiles and outstretched hands, amid the sighs of contentment and relief, there is always a question in the back of my mind. “What could one do that is as important?”
The answer comes immediately of course, just look at those B’nai Mitzvah students, just look at our wonderful senior members, and remember the delight taken in our students and adults who chanted so beautifully from our Torah scrolls. Remember the thunder in our reading together and the uplift of our singing together. There is so much to be done, created and nurtured; so many projects worthy of our attention and commitment.
I am committed to a singing congregation. It is gratifying to me that you often wish to listen, I promise to continue to offer opportunities for listening. And, as the weeks go by, I hope we will sing more and more together. You are not only invited to sing with me and with Rabbi Glazer, we do not only encourage your participation, but we expect that you will sing with us at all of our services. I will provide materials to ease your way. If the Hebrew is not comfortable, sing la la la or any syllable that feels right. We will sing our way into the next High Holy season and renew ourselves by raising our voices in song.
I am committed to fostering the chanting of Torah by our adult and student members. It would be my pleasure once again to offer a class with tapes/CD’s and music for the chant/accent marks, called T’amim. They give our Torah song its’ sweetness. Please contact me at the temple or by e-mail to let me know of your interest in this class.
I am committed to you. If Rabbi Glazer is away at any time, I am available for emergencies, or for a quiet getting to know you chat. I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me, as I wish to come to know all of you.
Once again I wish you the sweetness of this New Year, may it bring you the strength you may need, may it bring you positive challenges, may it bring you health. May it bring you ever closer to this, your community, Congregation Beth Israel-Judea.
L’shalom,
Cantor Ellen Schwab