You can read in the following wikipedia link, about the painful efforts taken by the Orthodox Jewish community of Jerusalem to construct this synagogue.
Although the synagogue was completed in 1871, it took 29 years to make it really happen after the land was purchased by Rabbi Israel Beck in 1843. Rabbi Israel was one of the community's leaders and the owner of the first Hebrew printing press in Jerusalem. The original synagogue was three storied and is also known as Nissan Beck Synagogue, after Rabbi Nissan Beck, the son of Rabbi Israel Beck. Its huge dome was partially funded by German Kaiser Franz Joseph in 1869. For the next 75 years, it served as the centre for the Orthodox Jewish community in the Old City of Jerusalem. During the Arab-Israeli war of 1948, the Jordanians destroyed the Synagogue. In 1967, the Old City came under Israeli rule and was decided to leave the synagogue in ruins as they were.
To reach the synagogue, walk through the Tiferet Israel street from Hurva Square of Jewish Quarter and just before the street reaches the modern eating outlets, climb the stairs on your right side that leads to the synagogue.
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