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A Jewish Romanian immigrant and Chona Ludlow's husband, Moshe Ludlow is one of the chief protagonists of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. As the owner of the All-American Dance Hall and Theater, he is a symbol of the unifying power of music and congregation, bringing people together and bridging divides. He understands "the meaning of celebration and music and that the blend of those things meant life itself." Early on, Moshe integrates his theater, becoming one of Chicken Hill's first residents to make strides toward establishing harmony between the neighborhood's Black and Jewish populations.

Moshe is also generous, charming, kind, and principled. A fundamentally good person, Moshe treats his friends and neighbors, Jewish and Black alike, with respect and compassion. In one of the novel's earliest scenes, he welcomes a group of tourists into his own home to calm a restless crowd. Later on, whether he is hiding Dodo from the government or agreeing to stay on Chicken Hill due to Chona's wishes, Moshe demonstrates a consistent tendency to help others. However, though ethical and honorable, part of his willingness to help others derives from his mild, unassertive nature. While Chona is a fighter, Moshe is hesitant, nervous, and unobtrusive. As a result, Moshe is deeply superstitious and often bends to the will of others, especially Chona, whom he faithfully adores. Perhaps Moshe's defining attribute is his deep and unwavering love for his wife. It is predominately, though not exclusively, Chona's illness and eventual death that steadily dissolves Moshe's lightness and charm. He becomes somewhat downtrodden. However, in a beautiful testament to Chona after her untimely death, Moshe presumably finds that inspiration once more, establishing "Camp Chona" in her image with his cousin Isaac for children with disabilities. 

Moshe also represents the Jewish American experience, highlighting the struggle of adapting to a new country while staying connected to one's cultural roots. Moshe seems to be torn between two worlds, symbolized by his friendships with both Nate and Malachi. Moshe is close with Nate, but there is a divide between them due to their cultural differences. However, his close bond with Malachi is strained as well, even though Moshe and Malachi are both Jewish immigrants, as Malachi is more closely tied to his traditional Jewish roots than he is. Moshe exists in a liminal space, proud to be American and supportive of the country's growing diversity—but as a Jewish immigrant, he still remains an outsider.

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