Donald H. Harrison

Growth of Jewish Communities Promoted in the Early 20th Century

The headline in the adjoining news clipping is hype. “May” is not “will” or “shall.” Booster describes real estate developers, hucksters and visionaries who wanted to profit from growing communities and increases in real estate prices. Saul Voorsanger, who emigrated from Holland with his wife Sarah in 1893, promoted the growth of the Jewish population. He was a salesman and publicist and the brother of Temple Emanu-El’s Rabbi Jacob Voorsanger. The rabbi started Emanu-El, San Francisco’s weekly Jewish newspaper in 1895 and died in 1908. Sol, Saul or S. became editor. During 1912 several newspapers reported Voorsanger’s visiting chambers of commerce in San Diego, Visalia, Fresno, Modesto, Kings, San Joaquin, and Dinuba. He solicited advertising for a special 75,000 copy edition of Emanu-El to recruit better-off Russian Jews to buy and farm California land, a chimera. [Oliver B. Pollak]

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Jewish History, Oliver Pollak, USA

Good News from Israel (August 23, 2021)

NETANYA, Israel — In the August 23, 2021 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: 
–Israeli scientists have printed an active tumor for testing cancer therapies.
–An Israeli charity is saving Arab children from dying in car crashes.
–Israelis again aid victims of another massive deadly earthquake in Haiti.
–Israelis are developing a flying sports car.
–The rate of Israel’s economic recovery is one of the fastest in the world.
–Israel’s “no-fear” children enjoy a thrilling adventure trail in Jerusalem. [Michael Ordman]

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International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

‘Rosie the Riveter’ Theme of National Park

Shortly after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, the United States went into full war mobilization mode. While many men were drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces, others were needed to staff the shipyards, aircraft factories, and munition plants on the home front. It soon became apparent that there were more positions to be filled than available male workers and so the U.S. began to recruit women to work in these war industries at jobs for which they never before had been eligible. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Talented Celebrity and Statesman Made Paso Robles His Second Home

The Paso Robles Historical Society currently is housed in a building that had been donated for a library many years before by the philanthropist and industrialist Andrew Carnegie – one of 3,000 libraries he donated throughout the world.  Outside the building there is a statue, but it is not of Carnegie nor of Drury James, the man who recognized that the city’s hot springs and mud baths could be made into a tourist attraction and who built the grand Hotel de El Paso de Robles. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

STEM, STEAM, and Now STREAM Children’s Books

Educators long have worked with STEM curricula — emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  When artists declared such curricula were too limiting, the notion of STEAM was introduced.  Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Now, here comes STREAM — Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math… [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori

Israel Cautious About Retaliating Against Economically Troubled Lebanon

An Arab Knesset Member, affiliated with Meretz, announced that neither Meretz nor the Arab party Ram, would support the government if it attacked Lebanon. Some days earlier, there was a rocket attack on northern Israel, attributed to a Palestinian group in Lebanon. Apparently, there was no significant damage. Earlier there had been an interchange, with Israeli aircraft bombing Lebanese sites in response to rocket attacks. But there was no Israeli response to the latest attack from Lebanon. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

‘Artists for Good’ Donate Works to Aid Non-Profits

What if immersing yourself in art could create ripples that would beautify someone else’s world?  Imagine simply indulging your inner aesthete and at the same time providing aid and support to a worthy charity. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of local artist, Tanya Abel, you can do just that. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Anne Frank Center Opens at University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina will open North America’s first Anne Frank partner site and the world’s fourth Anne Frank Center. The Anne Frank Center on campus will be free of charge and open for guided group tours starting on Sept. 15, it was announced on Tuesday. Visitors will learn about the young Jewish diarist’s story and legacy through photos, videos and original artifacts, all supplied by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. [JNS.org]

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International, Jewish History, USA

Few New York Jews Will Miss Andrew Cuomo as Governor

The defiant tone of outgoing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the wake of an investigation in which 11 women accused him of sexual harassment had many surprised on Tuesday when he announced his resignation, handing the position to his Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. The transfer of power is slated to take place in the next couple of weeks. Jewish politicos in the state with the country’s highest Jewish population said Cuomo leaves behind a mixed legacy with the Jewish community in the 10-plus years he has served as the state’s governor. They described Cuomo as someone not endearing, and that the relationship, though productive, was one of necessity for both Cuomo’s political ambitions and the community’s needs. [JNS.org]

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Travel and Food

Arab Protestors Burn Swastika Inside Star of David

Palestinians erected a burning swastika and Star of David on Saturday night during riots in the village of Beita in Samaria, near the evacuated outpost of Evyatar. The riots, which have included burning tires and the firing of fireworks, have been taking place every night for months, with the aim of intimidating and eventually causing the complete evacuation of Evyatar. [JNS.org]

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Middle East

Israel furious as Poland’s president signs bill to limit property claims

Published by Reuters WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland’s president has decided to sign a bill that would set limits on the ability of Jews to recover property seized by Nazi German occupiers and retained by post-war communist rulers, drawing fury from Israel which branded the law anti-Semitic. “I made a decision today on the act, which in

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International