Benjamin Shoeneman, the first president of Sinai Congregation, was born in Germany in 1825. In 1849 he emigrated to America and in 1852 came to Chicago where he engaged in the packing business. He was versed in Jewish literature, was a man of progressive ideas and a warm champion of Jewish reform. From 1863 to 1867 he was chairman of the School Board of Sinai. He also served one year as financial secretary of the U. H. C.