Designed by Adolf Wolff in the Moorish Revival style, completed in 1874, and destroyed by Nazis on 27 September 1938, it was the third synagogue in Nuremberg.

The synagogue, located at Hans-Sachs-Platz, connected elements of Christian church architecture with oriental decoration, and symbolized the integration of Jews into the city's society after a 400-year ban on Judaism.

[citation needed] In August 1938, the synagogue was seized and destroyed on the orders of mayor Willy Liebel and Julius Streicher, the Gauleiter of Franconia, who stated that it was architecturally offensive.

[1] The following individuals have served as rabbi of the congregation:[citation needed] After the war ended, the city of Nuremberg did not decide to reconstruct the synagogue, in spite of the area being not overbuilt and available for construction work.

Also, the winning entry of Nuremberg's 1947 architectural competition – intended to gather the best plans on how to rebuild the city – did not envision a synagogue on its original premises.