San Diego County

Hand Up Pantry pioneers among JFS gala honorees

First in a series By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – They are of different generations and live on different coasts of the United States, but one can’t help but think of Marsha Berkson and Estee Einhorn as close colleagues who helped to establish Jewish Family Service’s Hand Up Pantry, which offers hungry and homeless

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food

San Diego Symphony plans Leonard Bernstein festival

As one of the most celebrated musicians of his time, Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) dedicated his life and career to the joy of music and the development of humanity. In his centennial year, the San Diego Symphony is proud to host a special Bernstein Festival in association with “Leonard Bernstein at 100”, a world-wide

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego Calendar

Community says farewell to Gussie Zaks, z”l

  By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—At a packed funeral service Tuesday, March 13,  at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, the community bade a final farewell to San Diego’s First Lady of Holocaust Survivors, Gussie Zaks. The longtime lecturer, organizer, and educator—who had told her story of survival countless times to students, club members, law enforcement, and

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County

Cantor Merel’s life story now on video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KKSf-1YCrQ&feature=youtu.be By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO —  I suppose it’s not unusual for a cantor to be able to sing show tunes and operatic arias in addition to Hebrew prayer melodies.  But when the cantor still can hit the high notes at age 93, that’s truly remarkable. Cantor Sheldon Merel, the cantor emeritus of

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Woodstock, woodwork, and didgeridoos

  By Donald H. Harrison SOLANA BEACH, California – Exploring the Cedros Avenue Design District, Grandson Shor and I happened upon Justin Yasgoor, who was sanding a table top in the basement of the extensive David Alan Collection, which includes furniture and sculptures from various places around the world, particularly Japan and Indonesia. Schmoozing with

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, Travel and Food

‘Soul Doctor,’ story of Shlomo Carlebach, opens April 3

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — You don’t have to be Jewish to love Shlomo — but it helps. The biographical musical Soul Doctor tells the incredible story of real-life “singing rabbi” Shlomo Carlebach and his unlikely friendship with Nina Simone, the high priestess of soul.  A smash hit off Broadway, this spirited San Diego production begins

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San Diego Calendar, Theatre, Film & Broadcast