Congregation Achduth Vesholom
Congregation Achduth Vesholom is a Reform synagogue, located at 5200 Old Mill Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is the oldest synagogue in Indiana, having been formed initially as a German Orthodox congregation on October 26, 1848. Originally, its name was "The Society for Visiting the Sick and Burying the Dead". At the outset, the congregation worshiped in private homes. In 1857, the synagogue purchased a building on Harrison Street for $1,200 ($ today), which was dedicated as a synagogue. The first rabbi was Joseph Solomon, who served until 1859. In 1861, the congregation adopted its  current name, which means "Unity and Peace". The congregation built a Gothic-style temple with seating for 800 people in 1874 at the cost of $25,000 ($ today). Samuel Hirshberg was rabbi from 1891–1895. The congregation moved to 5200 Old Mill Road in 1961. In 1995, the synagogue hired a new rabbi, Sandford Kopnick.