San Diego County

Shapers of the Immigration Debate: Enrique Morones

In 2009, Enrique Morones, then the leader of Border Angels, was presented by Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon with an award conferred by the Human Rights Commission of Mexico. The impressive ceremony in Mexico City honored Morones’ decades of work protecting undocumented migrants who brave harsh terrain and insufferable temperatures to seek new lives in the United States. In an acceptance speech, Morones urged Mexicans not to come to the United States, telling them that they were needed to build their own nation.  ‘We are Mexicans, and Mexico’s future is here in Mexico, not America,” he pleaded.  “Mexicans, do not go.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, USA

Suit Okayed Against Gun Manufacturer, Store in Chabad of Poway Shooting

Unless overturned on appeal, a case brought against gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson and gun store San Diego Guns will be permitted to proceed on behalf of the victims of the April 27, 2019  shooting at Chabad of Poway, which occurred on the last day of Passover. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

2K in Rewards Offered for Information Leading to Arrest in SDSU Chabad Vandalism Incident

Rewards totaling $2,000 are being offered by Crime Stoppers and the Anti-Defamation League “for information that leads to an arrest” of the two young women who were seen on security video vandalizing the Chabad House at San Diego State University in the early morning hours of Friday, June 25. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

Former S.D. County School Board Member Tells Opposition to Critical Race Theory

The much-discussed concept of critical race theory should in no way be part of the curriculum used to teach U.S. history in California’s public schools because it is inherently conflict-ridden and divisive. Ethnicity and race are important ways that students define themselves in the schools, and public education has made great strides in recent years to ensure the teaching of history is more diverse and representative. But more work remains to be done. [Mark Powwell]

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

S.D. Synagogues Welcome Palestinian Speaker, Executive Director

Activities and staffing are returning to pre-pandemic levels at various San Diego County synagogues, with Temple Emanu-El in the San Diego State University area hosting a Palestinian refugee who is highly critical the Palestinian Authority’s human rights record. Tifereth Israel Synagogue in the San Carlos neighborhood, meanwhile, has announced it has hired a new executive director. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Flag Raising Marks Reopening of House of Israel in Balboa Park

After more than a year absence because of the coronavirus pandemic, the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park reopened to visitors over the July 4th weekend.  So named because relations among nations should be “pacific” or “peaceful” — and not a reference to the ocean that washes San Diego’s shores — The House of Pacific Relations includes the House of Israel (HOI), which marked the reopening with a flag raising ceremony. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

‘Thank you, America’ from the Depths of My Jewish Heart

As a boy, I loved hearing the story about the early childhood of my father, Martin B. Harrison, who was born on the 4th of July, 1910.  To paraphrase the great Irish-American lyricist George M. Cohan, dad was a “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Until dad reached the age of 5, his parents — M. Joseph and Florence Harrison — had him persuaded that the nation held all those parades and shot off all those fireworks in celebration of his birthday.  When he got to kindergarten, however, he learned the truth.  The celebration was for the birth of the American nation, and not specifically for little Marty. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

The Vietnam Generation: A Personal Reflection

It’s the 4th of July and 60 years since, at the age of 17 while in high school, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve. My parents, refugees from Germany and Austria, reluctantly gave their consent. My family wore British and German uniforms in WWI, in WWII English, Czech and Theresienstadt garb. [Oliver B. Pollak, Ph.D]

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International, Lifestyles, Oliver Pollak, San Diego County, USA

Planning for Locally-Based Israel Trips Resumes

As vaccination rates increase and the coronavirus pandemic seemingly is being brought under control, group trips to Israel from San Diego are again being organized.  One of the first to be publicized is a joint trip planned for May 15-29, 2022 and sponsored by the San Diego Outreach Synagogue and the Desert Outreach Synagogue, to be led respectively by Rabbi/ Cantor Cheri Weiss and Rabbi Jules King. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

StandWithUs to Aid House of Israel in Balboa Park

The leadership of the House of Israel in Balboa Park is less worried today about the possible burnout of their volunteers. which could have led to the organization being unable to keep the doors open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.  That in turn could have led to the House of Israel, a Balboa Park fixture since 1948, being forced to relinquish its cottage and being replaced by the house of another nation. The pro-Israel advocacy group StandWithUs has come to the rescue. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

A Drumbeat of Antisemitism in San Diego, Across the U.S.

Near the San Diego State University campus, in San Diego’s daily newspaper, in speeches by members of Congress, and in an apology forced upon a children’s book executive for speaking out against antisemitism, the drumbeat of hatred against our fellow Jews grows increasingly persistent. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA