Constructed in 1867, Ahavas Achim is the oldest synagogue building in Indiana, the fourth oldest in the Midwest, and the 12th oldest in the United States. It remains one of only two synagogues built prior to 1900 in the state of Indiana.

The building is currently listed for sale—and we need your help to preserve the building, and all its historical significance, for our community!

In the last 30 years, seven pre-1900 synagogues have been demolished and today only 97 remain standing in the United States. We have been presented with a unique opportunity to preserve and protect an indelible part of Jewish-American and Indiana history. We aim to revitalize the building as Ahavas Achim Cultural Center, paying tribute to the congregation’s original name. This cultural and historical center will serve the local Jewish community and the Greater Lafayette community writ large, with a museum display showcasing the history of the Greater Lafayette Jewish community and event space available for everything from lectures to weddings.

Learn more on our website!

The synagogue was dedicated on Friday, November 1st, 1867. Rabbi Milton Weill, the congregation, the mayor of Lafayette, and the Lafayette City Council, accompanied by the Lafayette Silver Cornet Band, paraded through Downtown Lafayette to 17 South 7th St., and filled “every seat” for the dedication of a newly-constructed synagogue. The Romanesque-style building was designed by Jacob Welschbillig and constructed of brick, with intricate stained glass windows accented by limestone arches and sills. Construction was supported through funds raised by the small Jewish community—“about thirty families in all,” members of the Lafayette community, and donors from “Philadelphia, New York, and Cincinnati.” The Romanesque design is rare in pre-1900 Midwestern synagogues, with only three of this style in the region.

Preserve Ahavas Achim