Born in 1810 in the town of Oettingen in Bavaria, Moses Michelbacherwas the son of Jakob Nathan Michelbacher and Adelheid Michelbacher.His name was Marx at birth, but he changed it to Max when, in 1844,having completed his education in Germany, he set sail for the UnitedStates. He settled first in Philadelphia where, in 1845, he marriedMary Traubel, also from Bavaria.

Meanwhile, theGerman Jews who had been coming to Richmond were feeling ill at easein the Sephardi congregation, Beth Shalome, and so, in 1841, theyformed their own, Beth Ahabah. Initially services were led by MyerAngle, but by 1846 they had determined that a teacher and religiousauthority was needed. Michelbacher’s knowledge of Hebrew and Jewishlearning were well known—and rare commodities in the UnitedStates—and so, thirty-three members of Beth Ahabah raised funds tobring him down from Philadelphia.

In Richmond, he ledservices and threw himself into his new role as a communal leader. Hefounded the respected Richmond German, Hebrew, English Institute and,in 1848, consecrated the congregation’s synagogue, for which he hadhelped raise funds. In 1849 he helped organize the Ladies’ HebrewAssociation, the principal charity in the Jewish community.

Just after theirthird child was born, in 1849, Mary died, and the following year hemarried Miriam Angle, daughter of the former lay leader of BethAhabah, and they would have five children.

Like most of hiscongregants, Michelbacher was a staunch supporter of slavery, theConfederacy, and secession. During the war, he came to see himself asthe leader and protector of all Jews serving in the Confederate army,and in this role attempted to secure furloughs for soldiers tocelebrate Jewish holidays. He also composed a prayer for theConfederacy to be read by soldiers and congregants. It includes thelines:

Thisonce happy country is inflamed

bythe fury of war; a menacing enemy is arrayed

againstthe rights, liberties, and freedom of this our

Confederacy…Our firesides are threatened; the

foeis before us… Here I now stand with many sons

ofthe South, to face the foe, drive him back and

defendour natural rights