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The Strauss family came from the small town of Rothenkirchen. It is not exactly known for how long Jews had been living there. For the years 1728-1744 church records already mention Jewish families. By 1830 a considerable Jewish community consisting of 97 individuals in 25 households had established itself. The working people in those days were mainly livestock dealers, traders of goods, small business owners, and there were some bookbinders and cobblers. During the years 1832 to 1842 the Jewish population counted at times more than 100 individuals which was approximately 15% of the total population. Contrary to common opinion most of the Jews had but quite moderate income, and some were just as poor as many of the ”Christian” peasants. Except for the teacher almost all the Jewish people who were gainfully employed worked in commerce - some trade of the time.

The Jewish congregation had their own Synagogue, a half-timbered building, which to this day is well preserved, although remodeled as a residential building. According to a newspaper report dated March 5, 1908 the building was sold to the highest bidder.

For many years the Andreas Kehres family owned it and up to the late 1970ies operated a grocery store in it.

At times there even existed a Jewish Elementary School, which in 1842, at the heyday of the congregation, was attended by 14 students under the leadership of Simon Neumark acting as both teacher and principal.

The congregation did not have their own cemetery rather a joined cemetery at the neighboring town of Burghaun, where at least 60 final resting-places of Jews from Rothenkirchen dating back to 1789 until 1898 are located.

At the end of 1852 the Jewish congregation had passed its peak and as of 1864 it declined continually, consisting of only two families by 1906.