San Diego County

Biden likens North Korea to pre-war Nazi Germany

Former Vice President Joe Biden compared the U.S. relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un today to America’s “good relationship with Hitler before he, in fact, invaded Europe — the rest of Europe.”

The comparison came during one of many sharp exchanges Thursday night between Biden, the Democratic nominee for President, and  President Donald J. Trump, the Republican,  in their second and last debate before the Nov. 3 election.  [Donald H. Harrison)

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

Days in the lives of mentally ill homeless people

Ever walk down the boardwalk in Pacific Beach or downtown at the Embarcadero on a beautiful sunny afternoon day and notice raggedly dressed individuals sleeping on park benches? They look as if they have not showered in years and if you got close enough your nose would tell you that you were probably right. [Ben Dishman, PharmD]

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Ben Dishman, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

March of the Living plans worldwide Kristallnacht remembrance

The March of the Living organization has called upon Jewish communities and their friends around the world to keep their lights on at synagogues, Jewish institutions, and at homes in solemn remembrance of the night known as Kristallnacht on Nov. 9, 1938, when Nazis burned more than 1,400 synagogues and Jewish institutions in Germany. [Donald H. Harrison, Our Shtetl San Diego County]

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

Comprehensive list of SDJW endorsements

Following is a list of positions San Diego Jewish World has taken on candidates and propositions appearing on ballots in San Diego County.  In some cases, we have made no endorsement, either because we felt we didn’t have enough information to do so, or because we could not bring ourselves to back either candidate.  Each endorsement in the list below is  linked to the original editorial, so that you can see if you agree with our reasons. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

No on State Prop. 24; Yes on S.D. Measure E

Proponents and opponents of Proposition 24 both say that the other side will weaken consumer’s privacy protection, not strengthen it. It’s possible, but not likely, that they are both right. According to the independent legislative analyst, current law requires businesses serving more than 50,000 customers to follow state consumer data privacy standards. This law would exempt companies that serve less than 100,000 customers. That doesn’t sound like increased consumer privacy protection at all. [Donald H. Harrison]

No on State Prop. 24; Yes on S.D. Measure E Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

U.S. Attorney, ADL on guard against election interference

Two news releases hit my desk nearly simultaneously.  One was from the office of U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer.  The other was from the Anti-Defamation League.  Both were concerned about the possibility of attempts being made on Nov. 3 to interfere with the orderly processes of the election. [Donald H. Harrison, ‘Our Shtetl San Diego County’]

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Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

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]

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

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