Zipporah Michelbacher Cohen was an American civic leader who was heavily involved in charitable organizations in Virginia. From working as a nurse to serving on the boards of numerous Jewish women’s associations, Cohen spent over sixty years helping the less fortunate.

Cohen was born on December 13, 1853, in Richmond, Virginia. Her father, Maximilian Joseph Michelbacher, was a prominent Jewish religious leader and Zipporah attended his synagogue school. As a child, she assisted her mother, Miriam Angle Michelbacher, in caring for injured Confederate soldiers in their home. This experience sparked a passion for service and assisting the needy, and Cohen continued to pursue medical charity into her adulthood. At the age of 27, she became the treasurer for the Richmond Ear, Nose and Throat Infirmary, a clinic for those who could not afford medical care. She remained in this position for 37 years. 

In addition to her service in the medical field, Cohen was also involved in her religious community. She represented the Jewish community on the board of the Instructive Visiting Nurses Association (IVNA), which consisted of representatives from Richmond’s various religious denominations, eventually serving as treasurer and president. Additionally, she served as the President of the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Association, which primarily helped newly arrived Jewish immigrants in Richmond, as well as other poor communities. She also served on the board of the National Council of Jewish Women, a similar organization dedicated to serving poor Jewish communities. 

Zipporah married Samuel Cohen in 1875 and had three sons. In her personal life, she was deeply devoted to her father’s Congregation Beth Ahabah, serving as its vice president and paving the way for more inclusion of women among the congregation’s leaders. Cohen died on August 20, 1944, and her legacy and dedication to a life of service are still celebrated in Richmond today.

Source:

Julienne, Marianne E. "Zipporah Michelbacher Cohen (1853–1944)." Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia (1998– ), published 2006 (http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.asp?b=Cohen_Zipporah_Michelbacher, accessed 7/31/2025).