 Shaindlin was born in Karasubazar, Crimea (at the time part of the Russian Empire) on April 14, 1909 to Chaim and Rachel (Golden).His father owned and operated a coal business and was possibly shot and killed during a robbery of his business.Shaindlin came to North America, via Istanbul, on December 8, 1922 and entered the U.S. under the name Jacob Scheindlin.