The Society for setting up and maintaining a universal orphanage for Jewish boys in the Kingdom of Bohemia bought a house at former J. A. Komenského Street (today ́s Belgická) in 1898. Sixteen boys found their new home there. The building was gradually modernized. It had a gym, sporting field in the courtyard and its own synagogue.

The last pre-World War II director of the orphanage, Otto Freudenfeld, grew up in the orphanage himself. This musically talented man was also a Cantor of the Vinohrady synagogue. His son Rudolf was the moving force of many theatrical and musical productions organized at the orphanage - and later in the Terezín ghetto.