Jews began to immigrate to Vermilionville (present-day Lafayette, LA) in the early 1800s. Temple Rodeph Sholom was founded in 1869 as an orthodox congregation, meeting in members’ homes. In 1881, former Louisiana Governor Alexandre Mouton donated two lots on Lee Avenue in Lafayette to the congregation for the purpose of building a synagogue. The temple was built in 1889, and the congregation joined the Reform movement about the same time. The building, somewhat altered, remains in use today.

Yeshurun Synagogue was established in 1974. This was a smaller congregation, more closely aligned with the Conservative movement of Judaism. The congregation built a synagogue on Kaliste Saloom Road.

Rodeph Sholom and Yeshurun merged in 1992, and the new congregation took the name Temple Shalom.

The congregation formed several organizations within the Temple, including the Lafayette Temple Sisterhood. Also known as Rodeph Sholom Sisterhood, this organization comprised of women members of Temple Rodeph Sholom whose objectives were to “foster and further the highest ideals of Judaism, to promote closer fellowship among its members, to cooperate with the Congregation of Temple Rodeph Sholom in religious, social and educational activities, and to assist in civic endeavors for the advancement of humanitarian causes”. Among its many activities, the annual sale of spaghetti sauce was widely popular in Lafayette and beyond. Yeshurun Synagogue also had a Sisterhood. Both groups appear to have disbanded about the time the congregations merged, and their activities were assumed by Temple Shalom.