Initially there was a prayer hall, later probably an older synagogue, which is first mentioned as "Judenschule" for the first time in 1802 in the fire cadastre of the community. This old synagogue stood on the site of the new synagogue of 1891 and was demolished in a dilapidated condition in 1889.

Since the beginning of the 18th century, Neckarsteinach had a synagogue or a prayer room in a building. In this was also a ritual bath. 1801 to 1803, the community decided to establish a new synagogue. For this purpose, a house was bought on the road to Hirschhorn (Hirschstraße) and a prayer room with a bathroom and a teacher's apartment was established in it. In 1886, however, the old synagogue had to be torn down due to dilapidation.