Rabbi Shimon Sholom Kalish (1882–1954), also known as the Amshinover-Otvotsk Rebbe, was a prominent Chassidic leader from the Kalish family and a central figure of the Warka-Amshinov Chassidic dynasty.Renowned for his deep love of the Jewish people, extreme modesty, and brilliant charisma, he is widely remembered for his remarkable spiritual leadership and rescue efforts during World War II.

Early Life and Leadership in Poland

• Lineage: Born in 1882 (or 5643 in the Hebrew calendar) to Rabbi Menachem Kalish, the second Rebbe of Amshinov. He was a great-grandson of Rabbi Yitzchok of Warka, the founder of the dynasty.

  
  

• Character: From an early age, he was noted for his sharp intelligence and empathy. He regularly interacted with visitors at his father's court, checking on their well-being and ensuring they had adequate food and lodging.

  
  

• Otvotsk Court: He married his cousin, Rebbetzin Feiga Brocho, the daughter of his uncle, Rabbi Yeshaya Kalish of Peshisha. Following his father's passing in 1918, he became the Rebbe in Otwock (Otvotsk), a resort town near Warsaw. Under his leadership, the court grew immensely, drawing both Chassidim and great business industrialists who sought his advice. He also served as a member of the Mo’etzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages) and authored the Torah work Mashmia Sholom.

  
  

World War II and the Shanghai Exodus

With the outbreak of World War II, Rabbi Shimon Sholom was forced to flee Warsaw. His escape route and wartime leadership became legendary:

• The Flight to Lithuania: He initially found refuge in Lithuania. Despite being the center of the Mitnagdim(opponents of Chassidism), local scholars and yeshiva students were deeply drawn to his radiance, and many became his followers.

  
  

• The Journey to Shanghai: He became a primary driving force behind the exodus of thousands of young yeshiva students (from Mir, Kletsk, Radin, and Novhardok) who escaped through Russia and Japan, ultimately finding a haven in the Japanese-controlled Shanghai Ghetto. Because the students and Lubavitcher Chassidim lacked senior leadership during their exile in Shanghai, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe (the Rebbe Rayatz) instructed them to seek direction directly from the Amshinover Rebbe.

  
  

• Saving the Community from the Nazis: As the war intensified, Nazi officials pressured Japan to exterminate or deport the Shanghai Jews. During a high-stakes meeting with the Japanese military governor, the governor asked why the Germans hated the Jews so intensely. Knowing the fate of the community hung on his response, Rabbi Shimon Sholom brilliantly replied in Yiddish:

  
  

  "Zugim weil mir senen orientalim — Tell him the Germans hate us because we are Oriental."

  Recognizing a commonality in how Nazi racial ideology viewed non-Europeans, the governor broke into a smile. Japan refused the German demands, and the 26,000 Jews in Shanghai survived the war.

Post-War Years and Legacy

• America: Following the war, the Rebbe immigrated to the United States in the late 1940s. His followers purchased a home for him in the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, where he reopened his Beit Midrash, established Talmud Torahs and mikvehs, and spearheaded efforts to strengthen Sabbath and Torah observance.

  
  

• Passing: Rabbi Shimon Sholom deeply loved the Land of Israel (having spent a year there in the 1930s) and famously referred to himself as a "Jew of Eretz Israel." In 1954 (5714), he purchased a ticket and finalized plans to permanently move there, but he suddenly fell ill and passed away on the 19th of Av.

  
  

His body was flown to Israel and escorted by thousands of people to his final resting place in Tiberias. He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehuda Myer Kalish.