It seems likely that synagogues were instituted during the 70 - year Babylonian exile when there was no temple in existence or shortly after the return from exile while the temple was being reconstructed.
Pēc visa spriežot, sinagogas tika izveidotas izsūtījuma laikā, kad jūdi 70 gadus atradās Babilonā un viņiem nebija tempļa, vai arī neilgi pēc atgriešanās no trimdas, kamēr templis vēl nebija atjaunots.