The founder of the dynasty was Rabbi Shalom Rokeach, also known as the "Sar Shalom", who was inducted as rabbi of Belz in 1817. He personally helped build the city's large and imposing synagogue. Dedicated in 1843, the building resembled an ancient fortress, with walls, a castellated roof and battlements adorned with gilded gold balls. It could seat 5,000 worshippers, and had superb acoustics. It stood until the Nazis invaded Belz in late 1939. Though the Germans attempted to destroy the synagogue, first by fire, and then by dynamite, they were unsuccessful. Finally, they conscripted Jewish men in forced labour to take the building apart, brick by brick.