Cologne has a long history of Jewish settlement, beginning as far back as 321. The history, however, is marred by repeated tragedies, such as the First and Second Crusades and the accusations against the Jews following the Black Death. There were periods when no Jews were allowed to settle in the city.

In 1798, with Cologne becoming part of the French Republic, Jews were again allowed to settle in Cologne. However, there were only a few families until after Germany's emancipation of the Jews. With the emancipation of the Jews in Germany the community increased, and in 1854 Dr. Israel Schwarz was nominated rabbi. In 1861 a beautiful synagogue, erected in the Glockengasse at the expense of Abraham von Oppenheim, was consecrated. In 1876 the seminary for teachers, which had been founded at Düsseldorf in 1867, was transferred to Cologne and placed under the direction of Dr. Plato, rabbi of the Orthodox congregation 'Adat Yeshurun. A new synagogue was dedicated in 1899, in the presence of many representatives of both the state and the municipality. The liberal congregation has two rabbis, Dr. S. Frank, who, in 1876, succeeded Rabbi Israel Schwarz.