In 1856 the house belonging to the widow of Legationsrat Reuß Hospitalstrasse 36 together with the associated garden was up for sale. The Jewish wine merchant Heinrich Hirsch initially wanted to purchase the property. When he heard of the Jewish community's wish to build a synagogue on this property, he withdrew from the purchase in favor of the community. Of the four building plans submitted the one by Baurat Gustav Breymann was selected.