Jewish life in Spain's major cities existed in the later decades of the 19th century, but only coalesced into organized bodies around the time of World War I.

[5] In addition, Israel’s victory over the coalition of Arab states in the Six-Day War in 1967 pushed a large population of Jews in Morocco to emigrate to Spain.

[8] The rectangular building, designed by a Spanish architect,[9] included a main sanctuary with seating for 550 people and space for education, social, and community activities.

[8] On December 16, 1968, the Beth Yaacov synagogue opened on Balmes Street in the Chamberí district of Madrid, at a ceremony attended by 600 locals and Jewish dignitaries from across the world.

[4] A letter announcing the repeal was presented to Samuel Toledano, leader of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, and read from the pulpit of Beth Yaacov synagogue, which would serve the city's 2,500 Jews.

[12] Queen Sofia attended Shabbat services at the synagogue in June 1976, marking the first time in modern Spanish history that a member of the royal family had visited a Jewish house of worship.

The king wore a white yarmulke and prayed for peace with approximately 250 people in an 85-minute ceremony, in what the Los Angeles Times called "a remarkable gesture of reconciliation.

Also present were descendants of Abraham Senior and Isaac Abarbanel, who had unsuccessfully petitioned King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to retract the edict.