San Diego County

San Diego Jewish World Honors Community Leaders From the ‘Outside’ and ‘Inside’

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — This publication held its first annual event on Sunday, July 31, at an afternoon reception in a private home with a sweeping panoramic view of the La Jolla coastline. Jacob Kamaras, San Diego Jewish World’s editor and publisher, emceed the affair at which Roz Rothstein, a co-founder and CEO […]

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Donald H. Harrison, Opinion, San Diego County

Amid World Premiere in San Diego, ‘The Remarkable Mister Holmes’ Looks Broadway-Bound

By Eva Trieger What do you get when you combine the brilliance of actor/director/lyricist/playwright, Omri Schein with the actor/artistic director/heart of North Coast Repertory Theatre, David Ellenstein, with the “incredibly talented and joyously spirited cast” of The Remarkable Mister Holmes? A witty, delightful musical that is most assuredly Broadway-bound following this world premiere. Four years

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Temple Etz Rimon of Carlsbad Hosts Open House for Prospective New Members

CARLSBAD, California (Press Release) — Temple Etz Rimon of Carlsbad hosted an open house event in the Ocean Hills Community of Oceanside. The gathering was a complete success. Prospective new members learned everything the Reform Congregation has to offer. Speaking at the event were Cantor Caitlin Bromberg, the Temple’s spiritual leader and Mary Weiss, the

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Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Where I-5 Jewish Stories Are Found

The three-book series offers 90 stories in all – a mosaic of Jewish life, personalities, and influences along the Interstate 5 corridor from the Mexican border to the Orange County line. It has been a pleasure authoring this trilogy, which has been augmented by the photography of Dr. Ben Dishman and Fred Kropveld, two fellow congregants of Tifereth Israel Synagogue. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Ben Dishman, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, San Diego County, Travel and Food

‘As You Like It’ Brings a Rare Treat to Life

By Eva Trieger SAN DIEGO — In 1621,  a tragedy befell England’s Fortune Theatre as it caught fire. However, just two years later, it rose from the ashes, but the actors became known as the Poor Companions. Award-winning actor, director, and producer Richard Baird took on the mantle of Artistic Director of Poor Players Theatre

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Eva Trieger, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

There’s a New Pretty Woman in Town — And It’s a Musical

By Sandi Masori SAN DIEGO — Most people recognize the title Pretty Woman from the 1990 film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Or they may know the song by Roy Orbison. But there’s a new Pretty Woman in town, and it’s a musical! Based on the movie, this Broadway adaptation at the San Diego

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San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

A Scroll of Ancient Music that Leads to a Romance

This book is a fictionalized account of Jacqueline Semha Gmach’s life in Tunisia and Canada before settling in San Diego where her store of cultural knowledge for many years defined programming at the Lawrence Family JCC.  It is also a love story, travelogue, and collection of photos that are dear to Gmach. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County

A Special Privilege to Teach Our Children

By Rabbi Simcha Weiser (JNS) The Jewish future relies on the relevance that children find in what we Jewish teachers teach. Soon to be entering the new school year, we need thoughtful clarity for our teaching to remain relevant. As our Jewish educators prepare to “diligently teach our children,” we remind ourselves how privileged we

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Opinion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

13-Year-Old San Diegan Donates $1,800 of Bar Mitzvah Gifts to Help His Homeless Neighbors

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – The San Diego Rescue Mission received a donation of $1,800 from Leo Fink, a 13-year-old San Diego resident from Carmel Valley who recently had his bar mitzvah and wanted to give part of his gift money to help his neighbors experiencing homelessness. Leo has been volunteering at the San Diego

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Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County

San Diego Finds Itself at the Center of the Jewish Community Center Universe

By Jacob Kamaras LA JOLLA, California — It’s relatively rare for the top lay leader of a Jewish organization with national or continental reach to be based on the West Coast, let alone in San Diego. That makes the leadership trajectory at the JCC Association of North America all the more unique. In late May,

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Jacob Kamaras, San Diego County, USA

Kolender Was City’s First Jewish Police Chief, County’s First Jewish Sheriff

A member of the Jewish community, known for his self-deprecating sense of humor, Kolender grew up at the Reform Congregation Beth Israel. However, when it was time for his bar mitzvah, he honored his grandfather’s wishes and had it at Beth Jacob Congregation, which is Orthodox. “The rabbi there was Baruch Stern, and it was the first bar mitzvah for him after the war,” Kolender told me back in 1996 when I profiled him for the now defunct San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage. Rabbi Stern’s children “had been killed in front of him by the Nazis, and he started crying and I started crying, and I’m not sure if we ever did get through the whole thing. It was something I never will forget.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

San Diego Event Featuring Israeli Actress Expands to National Audience Due to Unprecedented Demand

(JNS) The land of Israel is “the most misunderstood country on earth,” according to Israeli actress, producer, author, and activist, Noa Tishby, who was recently named the Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism & the Delegitimization of Israel by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As one of the nation’s most popular “positively Israel” keynote speakers,

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Middle East, San Diego County, USA

How a Sightseeing Company Got its Start in San Diego

This chapter is a chance for me to step again from third-person history into first-person history because I was highly involved in the start-up in 1989 of Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego. It came about because through The Harrison Enterprises, the public relations agency which I owned, I served as the executive director of the San Diego Cruise Industry Consortium. The consortium was created in 1983 under the aegis of Acting Mayor Bill Cleator to attract cruise ships to the Port of San Diego. Previously, I had served as communications director for Cleator during the period he served as a city councilman and acting mayor. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA