LAFAYETTE, IN — Tucked off South Seventh Street on the edge of Lafayette’s historic downtown sits the oldest synagogue in Indiana. Although it hasn’t been used as a Jewish house of worship in several decades, a group of friends is campaigning to restore its history.
Built in 1867 by the Jewish congregation Ahavath Achim, which translates from Hebrew to “brotherly love,” the brick synagogue at 17 S. 7th St. was put up for sale as in October. The brick three-bedroom, two-bath property at 4,176 square feet is currently listed for $299,900.
Before the synagogue’s fall listing, when word got out that the property would soon be for sale, Tanya Volansky-Wirth said she and a group of her fellow Jewish friends began chatting among themselves, wondering what could be done to save the historic building…