The building of this synagogue is connecting to an ancient legend of Georgian Judaism, according to which one of the stones of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, would have been scattered in the air after its destruction and would have landed in Oni, at the place where the synagogue was built.
In 1927 communists decided to destroy the synagogue, but 30 women with their children inhabited the building and stayed for 3 months to save it from destruction. This fact saved the Oni synagogue. In 1991 a big earthquake took place in Oni which destroyed the smaller synagogue and damaged the big one. Jewish organizations, JDC and former president Eduard Shevardnadze, all collectively helped renovate the big synagogue.
Prayers are barely held at the synagogue today, but a man named Simon Shimshilashvili, who is in his 70s, has taken up the position of the guard of the synagogue with his own will. Prayers in the synagogue are held only when Jewish tourists visit Oni.
