Zipporah Michelbacher Cohen

Zipporah Michelbacher Cohen (1853 – 1944) was an American civic leader including serving as the president of the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Association in Richmond, Virginia.

Zipporah Michelbacher Cohen
Born
Zipporah Michelbacher

(1853-12-13)December 13, 1853
Richmond, Virginia
DiedAugust 20, 1944(1944-08-20) (aged 90)
Richmond, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Occupationcivic leader

Biography

Cohen née Michelbacher was born on December 13, 1853, in Richmond, Virginia.[1][2] She was the daughter of Miriam Angle Michelbacher and Congregation Beth Ahabah's Rabbi Maximilian Joseph Michelbacher.[3] In 1875 she married Samuel Cohen, son of Levi Cohen, the founder of the Cohen Company, one of Richmond's largest department stores. The couple had three children.[3][4]

In 1880 Cohen began her tenure as treasurer of the Richmond Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Infirmary, a clinic for those unable to otherwise obtain medical care. In 1902 she joined the board of directors of the Instructive Visiting Nurses Association (IVNA) representing Richmond's Jewish community on the board.[3] She served on the IVNA board for forty-two years.[1] In 1904 Cohen was elected president of the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Association (LHBA) (now Jewish Family Service). The LHBA provided assistance throughout Richmond.[5] She remained president until 1938, serving through the World War I era as well as the Great Depression.[6][1]

Cohen died on August 20, 1944.[2]

References
  1. Dictionary of Virginia Biography 3 (PDF). Library of Virginia. 2006. p. 347.
  2. "Women in the Dictionary of Virginia Biography". Dictionary of Virginia Biography. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  3. Ezekiel, Herbert Tobias; Lichtenstein, Gaston (1917). The History of the Jews of Richmond from 1769 to 1917. H. T. Ezekiel. ISBN 978-0-7222-4673-3.
  4. Kozakewicz, Skip. "The Cohen Company". Reflector News. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  5. "Richmond Story: Jewish Family Services". The Valentine. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  6. "Celebrating Zipporah Cohen in Women's History Month". Jewish Family Services Richmond. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
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