San Diego County

SDJW endorses Will Moore, Stephen Whitburn S.D. for City Council

Given that the contenders are Democrats, and from a policy point of view seem to be in general agreement on such issues facing the city as homelessness, affordable housing,  infrastructure development and responding to the Covid19 pandemic, how does one choose between them? I believe the answer lies in how well the candidates articulate their ideas.  Do they simply repeat the platitudes that so often passes for political thought, or do they bring new concepts and methodologies to the table? [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

The man with computerized feelings

Danny and his attractive blonde wife, Louise, were ending their two-year marriage. The trim 34-year-old nurse had enough of his locked up feelings She couldn’t get him to show any feelings indicating he felt anything. It was like splashing her emotional bucket of water against a brick wall. The handsome 35-year-old computer engineer responded to her pleas to share his feelings with her, as if he were a part of his beloved machines. He created a spreadsheet in rows and columns of analytical minutia, where other people would exclaim, “I feel.” [Ira Spector]

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Lifestyles, San Diego County

SDJW recommends ‘Yes’ votes on Prop. 25, Measure B

On our state and San Diego city ballots, we have opportunities to make our criminal justice system more fair and responsive.  State Prop. 25 would eliminate the money bail system for defendants prior to their trials, replacing it with a system based on risk assessment.  Measure B on the City of San Diego ballot would create an independent Commission on Police Practices. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

Our school board, community college endorsements

In the midst of this coronavirus pandemic, we need continuity and stability on the governing boards of the San Diego Community College District and the San Diego Unified School Board.

Accordingly, we recommend the reelection of Community College Trustees Bernie Rhinerson and Mary Graham, respectively for Districts B and D.   Similarly, we urge the reelection of Richard Barrera in District D of the School Board and Sharon Whitehurst-Payne in District E.  We have no quarrel with either of their challengers, Camille Harris in District D nor Dr. Lawana Richmond in District E, but neither have we seen any compelling reason to replace these incumbents. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

SAJAC hosts forum on Jewish genetic risks

The two-hour program kicked off with a review of Ashkenazi history by UCSD clinical Urology Professor Dr. Franklin Gaylis. He explained how the shtetl-confined Ashkenazi communities of Eastern Europe, complicated by consanguineous marriages, concentrated the incidence of BRCA 1 and 2 mutant genes in their population, to a rate of 1 in 40 persons. Eighty percent of modern Jews have Ashkenazi ancestry.These genes cause a predilection for breast and ovarian cancer. [Irv Jacobs, M.D]

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International, Irv Jacobs, MD, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Juvenile arrested for attack on rabbi

Police reported on Friday that they had arrested a 14-year-old boy in connection with an attack on Saturday, Oct. 10. in which Rabbi Yonatan Halevy of Kehillat Shaar Hashamayim was clobbered on top of his head by an assailant who then rode off on his bicycle.  The 31-year-old rabbi, whose Sephardic congregation is engaged in outreach as part of a Shiviti movement, was knocked down but not seriously hurt.  At the time, Halevy was walking on Governor Drive in University City with his father, a stroke victim in his late 60s.  The father was not assaulted. [Donald H. Harrison, Our Shtetl San Diego County]

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Donald H. Harrison, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA

Yes on Proposition 21: Rachmanis for Renters

Proposition 21 poses a philosophical question.  In these hard times, do we vote to assure that renters will be able to remain in their homes, or do we, in the name of unrestricted capitalism, permit landlords to raise rents so high that their tenants are forced to find cheaper apartments, or in some cases, to become homeless? [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

Power couple? Sara Jacobs and Ammar Campa-Najjar?

By Ken Stone Times of San Diego SAN DIEGO –In Fiddler on the Roof, Tevya’s daughter Chava wants to marry a Russian Orthodox intellectual. In real life, Jared Kushner weds Ivanka Trump, and she converts to Judaism. Interfaith romances are common. San Diego Jewish World editor Don Harrison says the intermarriage rate among Jews in San

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Donald H. Harrison, Ken Stone, San Diego County, USA

Former San Diegan aids Sephardim seeking Spanish citizenship

UPDATE: March 14, 2026 — Nichole Martinez Kruse reports that she has closed the Welcome Home Sefardi business and therefore is no longer offering to facilitate for a fee citizenship applications for Portugal and Spain. — Editor, San Diego Jewish World. By Nichole Martinez Kruse ZARAGOSA, Spain — Throughout my life, I was drawn to

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County

Police increase patrols following attack on rabbi

Other items in this column include: *Seacrest Village has newly reconfigured kosher kitchen *Jewish organizational news *In memoriam By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Police Department considers last Saturday’s attack on Rabbi Yonatan Halevy to be a “high priority incident” and as a result will increase patrols in the University City

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Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Sephardic rabbi says youths attacked him

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Sephardic Rabbi Yonatan Halevy of Kehillat Shaar Hashamayin (Community of the Gates of Heaven)  has told police that he was attacked by teenagers during the Sukkot holiday last Saturday as he walked with his father Shalom Halevy, a stroke victim, near his congregation at 3232 Governor Drive, Suite

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County