The official European settlement in the Macau peninsula occurred in 1557. Amongst other setters were around 300 families of conversos, Jews forced to convert under the inquisition. As under Portuguese law a converso community was illegal, thus the community in Macau had to remain hidden and silent during the first two decades of the founding of the city or they would be taken to Goa and put in the hands of the inquisition. However, on 15 November 1579,  the Jesuit Francisco de Meneses indicated the intention of the local converso community was to build a synagogue in Macau.

When Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain by China in 1842, the conversos transferred their offices from from Macau to Hong Kong and helped to develop it. It was thought that there was a place of worship behind a Jewish restaurant on Rua da Tercena from 1967 to 1974, but this has not been substantiated.

Macau currently has a growing Jewish community with arrivals from Israel, Australia, Canada and the U.S. to work and study. Out of necessity, Jews in Macau have made efforts to network and meet one another, and groups like Macau Jewish Singles reflect this. Over the past four years, the Jewish community has come together in Macau. Most are professionals, ages 30-50. There is even talk about the need for a centre or synagogue.