PlaceJewish Eligibility — Verified by JWR

Ahavath Achim Synagogue

Historic 1867 synagogue building in Lafayette, Indiana, originally built for Ahavath Achim Congregation and later associated with Temple Israel.

17 South Seventh Street, Lafayette, Indiana, United StatesFounded 1867

Frontal exterior of the former Temple Israel synagogue in Lafayette

Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons, public domain worldwideSource

About

Ahavath Achim Synagogue was constructed in Lafayette in 1866–1867 and dedicated in 1867 as a purpose-built Jewish house of worship. The congregation later became associated with Temple Israel and continued using the building until 1969, when it moved to West Lafayette. The historic structure survives at its original site under adaptive reuse. It is no longer an active synagogue. The sources reviewed for this QA confirm its survival and former synagogue use, but do not establish a single clearly documented present-day regular use; JWR therefore describes the current status conservatively as adaptive reuse rather than guessing. Historic 1867 synagogue building in Lafayette, Indiana, originally built for Ahavath Achim Congregation and later associated with Temple Israel. In Jewish World Records, Ahavath Achim Synagogue is connected to the record “Oldest Synagogue in Indiana,” based on the stored achievement of Built in 1867.

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Records held by Ahavath Achim Synagogue

Front and south side of the former Temple Israel synagogue in Lafayette, Indiana

JWR Verified

Jewish Heritage · SynagoguesOldest

Oldest Synagogue in Indiana

Record holder

Ahavath Achim Synagogue

Record value

Built in 1867

The historic Ahavath Achim Synagogue building in Lafayette holds the record for the Oldest Synagogue in Indiana. The structure was purpose-designed and constructed as a synagogue, with its completion recorded as 'Built in 1867'. Ahavas Achim Congregation formed a building committee in December 1866, and the new synagogue was completed and dedicated during the High Holy Days the following year. The congregation, which later became known as Temple Israel, held its final service in the building in August 1969 before relocating.

Country: United States
Achievement location: Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Achievement date: 1 January 1867

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