Jews are first mentioned in the late 14th century, and lived there in small numbers during the next centuries. In 1837 the prosperous community numbered 140 (total 1,633), engaged mainly in the wine and cattle trade. During the 19th century (until 1871) Mainbernheim was the seat of the district rabbinate. The Jewish population dropped to 44 in 1867 and 20 in 1933. On “Kristallnacht” (9-10 Nov. 1938), Jews were severely beaten and their homes were wrecked, as was the synagogue. In 1933-40, 20 Jews left Mainbernheim, 12 of them for other German cities. The last Jews were deported to lzbica in the Lublin district (Poland) and to the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1942.