Donald H. Harrison

Parsha Behar: Schnorrers are unsung MVPs of Jewish history

The Hebrew language is gloriously rich in words for “poor person.” We’ve got dal, evyon, oni, rash — a whole thesaurus of poverty. Yet when the Torah lays down the laws about helping the poor, it refuses to use any of them. Instead, it keeps repeating one single word: achicha — “your brother.” [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Business & Finance, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Holocaust van will take education to students instead of vice versa

We realized that if we truly wanted to reach students where they are at scale, we needed to rethink the entire model. So, we asked: what if, instead of waiting for students to come to us, we brought the experience directly to them? [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Heidi Gantwerk, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Life cycle events make me reflect on how good it is to live openly as a Jew in America

Jewish Americans established a critically important place in our nation’s history because of the strength of our democracy, which has ensured our voices and views are heard. [Halie Soifer]

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

AJC San Diego publishes resource for Jewish American History Month

AJC San Diego has developed a set of mini-lessons about notable Jewish San Diegans throughout the city’s history. Click here to view the lessons, three of which are narrated by this publication’s publisher and editor, Donald H. Harrison. [Cailin Acosta]

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Business & Finance, Cailin Acosta, California, Israel, Jewish Religion, Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Israel’s President Herzog promotes integration of science and Torah

Rabbi Rimon told President Herzog. He added that, as someone engaged in the intersection of Torah and science, he is well-acquainted with the teachings of President Herzog’s grandfather, Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, who served as the first Chief Rabbi of Israel and previously as Chief Rabbi of Ireland. [Press Release]

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Israel, Jewish Religion, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education

Brandeis Center calls for investigation of Qatar’s ties to Georgetown University

The Brandeis Center’s letter posits that Georgetown’s obligations under the contract – consulting with a Qatari government-linked body on speaker selection, accepting Qatari funding, and hosting events at Qatar’s direction – satisfy the legal definition of acting as a foreign agent under FARA. (Press Release)

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International, Press Release, USA

‘MJ the Musical’ brings Michael Jackson’s music and movement back to San Diego

The strongest part of the production is the four performers who carry the different versions of Michael. Jordan Markus, as MJ, captures the voice, the movement, and the careful way Jackson carried himself between pain and whimsy. [Shor M. Masori]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Parshiot Behar & Bechukotai: Do you have that shmittah feeling?

We live in a world that rarely stops. There’s always another email, another obligation, another goal. Even when we “rest,” we’re often scrolling, consuming, distracting ourselves. Stillness can feel uncomfortable. Slowing down can feel like falling behind. And over time, we begin to internalize a dangerous equation: I am what I produce. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.]

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Rabbi Leon Morris describes why the Jewish people have always remained hopeful

Morris explained that optimal hope allows people to continue striving even when success seems unlikely. Rather than being driven only by expectations of fulfillment, optimal hope is fueled by wishes, aspirations and determination. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

War on Jews being fought on many fronts

What worries me most touched an adjacent congressional district in Philadelphia and the Senate election in my favorite state, Maine. Two so-called friends of the Palestinians are making both Democratic primaries disgusting – state Rep. Chris Rabb in Philly and Graham Platner in Maine. (Bruce S. Ticker)

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Antisemitism, Bruce Ticker, International, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Making It Relevant’ aligns Torah with modern life

What makes this book shine is its consistent structure: sharp questions on the text, insights drawn from Chazal, classical commentaries, and Chassidic thought (especially Chabad), followed by the powerful “Making It Relevant” section. These practical takeaways and reflective exercises are the book’s greatest gift—they transform passive reading into active spiritual growth, helping readers see the big picture of each week’s parsha as a roadmap for their own lives. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Staff and Bylined Contributors

ADL reports decline overall in antisemitic incidents, but notes an increase in violence against Jews

Even as overall incidents decreased, physical assaults increased by 4 percent, and incidents of assault involving a deadly weapon increased by 39-percent. Moreover, three people were murdered in antisemitic attacks this past year: two victims in the May 21, 2025, shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., and one victim who died from injuries sustained in the June 1, 2025, firebombing attack at a “Run for Their Lives” event in Boulder, Colorado. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, Jewish History, Press Release, USA