Moritz Eberhardt came from a long-established Jewish family in Maßbach/ Lower Franconia whose roots can be traced back to the 18^th century. He was born on January 25, 1880 as the youngest child of Samuel Eberhardt and his wife Fanny, née Schild and had three older siblings. His father was a cattle merchant just like his ancestors had been.

Moritz Eberhardt married Ida Rosenberger, who had been born in 1878 as the daughter of Isaak Rosenberger and Johanna Löwenthal in Kissingen. After their marriage, Moritz Eberhardt moved to Bad Kissingen in October 1907 where one year later their first son Saly was born. Saly became a merchant and emigrated to New York at the end of 1929. He married Klara Braunschweiger, a native of Burghaun in Hesse, there in 1937, with whom he had two children (Marcia and Francis). Saly Eberhardt died in New York in July 1975. His brother Rudolf/ Rudi Eberhardt was also born in Bad Kissingen on April 8, 1911. He also became a merchant and left Bad Kissingen in January 1931 to go to London. There he was granted British Citizenship in April 1938.He was married to Muriel née Blyth. Rudolf Eberhard died in November 1973 in the London district of Hampstead.His prayer book found its way back to Bad Kissingen after his death thanks to the help of Karen Franklin, the former director of the Jewish Museum in Riverdale/ New York.  

Moritz Eberhardt and his wife Ida left Bad Kissingen in August 1936 and at the beginning of September emigrated on board “SS Aquitania” from the English port of Southampton to the United States. In 1940, they shared an apartment with their eldest son Saly and his wife Claire S. in New York. Moritz Eberhardt died there in February 1947 at the age of 67.