[6]: 17  During the 1920s an international competition was launched for a modern synagogue for the Reform Judaism congregation; competitors included Lipót Baumhorn and Josef Hoffmann.

[7]: 160  In 1934 Behrens joined the Nazi Party and later worked on Hitler's plans for redesigning Berlin.

[8] After World War II, from which only 600 Jews returned to the city, the building was taken over by the town for cultural purposes, including an assembly hall for Žilina University and a cinema.

[9][10][11] The synagogue was built to accommodate 450 men in the prayer hall with 350 women in the galleries.

The congregational hall retained its domed structure, but the women's galleries which lined the upper storey were removed.