Reuma Schwartz was born in London, United Kingdom, on August 18, 1925. Her parents, Zvi, born in Novoselytsia, and Rachel, born in Kishinev (daughter of Dov Klimker), were members of the Second Aliyah, founders of the Mapai party and the Faculty of Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Reuma's older sister was Ruth, who later married Moshe Dayan.