The Jewish history of Marktbit dates back to the 15th century.
The modern Jewish community came into being in 1636 - Franz von Hatzfeld, Bishop of Würzburg, gave Jewish people the right to settle in return for high protection payments. In 1643, the House of Schwarzenberg inherited the Seinsheim estate. One year later, Count Schwarzenberg authorized the settlement of Jewish families.
Around 1700, Marktbreit already had one of the most important Jewish communities in the region. The seat of a chief rabbinate was established here. The construction of the Wertheim House is a vivid highlight. This trading house, commissioned by the Jewish merchant Samson Wertheimer, was designed by the famous architect Joseph Greissing.
The Jewish community flourished in the 19th century. At the end of the 19th century, almost 14% of the population was Jewish. After that, there was a steady decline.
On November 10, 1938, the synagogue in Schustergasse, built in 1885, was desecrated and its interior destroyed. Several Jewish homes were also vandalized. By 1941, over 80 Jews from Marktbreit were able to emigrate. In 1942, the remaining Jewish citizens were deported.
The Wertheimer Haus in Marktbreit designed by architect Joseph Greissing, photo: Schönherr