The first Jewish congregation in Columbus was formed in 1846 when 11 Jewish men and their families resided in Columbus. It was traditional and was known as Bene Jeshurun. The founders were Judah Nusbaum, his brother Samuel; Nathan, Isaac, Abraham, and Joseph Gundersheimer; Mayer Hess, Simon Mack, Samuel Amberg, S. Morrison and S. Schalbe.

From its beginning in 1846, services were held in a series of locations led by lay readers, mostly in rooms above shops along High Street. The congregation met in the upper level of the Twin Brothers Clothing store, then over Siefert’s Gun Shop. Their final meeting place in the mid to late 1860’s was Walcutt’s Hall.

Following the Civil War, in the late 1860’s, discussions about the method and practices of the service broke down.  A Reform synagogue was founded and Bene Jeshurun, the first congregation, held its last Orthodox Rosh Hashanah service in 1870 and ceased to exist by 1871, 25 years after its founding .