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Donald H. Harrison[/caption]
Donald H. Harrison is the publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.
Harrison began his journalism career in 1962 on the UCLA Daily Bruin. Following graduation he joined the staff of the Associated Press, and later became politics writer for The San Diego Union. Afterwards he pursued a career in tourism, helping to establish San Diego’s Cruise Ship Program as well as Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego. He also wrote for such Jewish publications as the San Diego Jewish Press Heritage and San Diego Jewish Times before starting San Diego Jewish World in 2007.
Don’s latest work is the three-volume Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5.
He is the author of six previous books. Those with links may be obtained on Amazon.
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Items in this column include:
*Sha’ar Hanegev Mayor Libstein has 3-day whirlwind tour of San Diego
*Ban on ‘Harry Potter’ series demonstrates need for Banned Book Week
*How the full-time staff of Camp Mountain Chai is described
*Mazel tov! Mazel tov!
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 22, 2019 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego CountyItems in today’s column include:
*No Jewish unity when it comes to local politics
*Political dots and dashes
*The continuing tragic aftermath of the shooting at Chabad of Poway
*Congresswoman Davis on student loan forgiveness, forced arbitration
*Conductor David Amos schedules a concert season honoring Beethoven’s 250th birthday
*Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov!
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 21, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA
I have met other people who can recall song lyrics from the 1950’s on, but none, absolutely none, whose memory is as phenomenal as that of Judy Gumbiner, the retired San Diego State University director of career services.
With the High Holy Days approaching, soon thereafter to be followed by Succot and Simcha Torah, Judy and I were discussing the impressions of the Jewish Bible that a popular music fan might derive from pop music and Broadway show tunes.
Here are some of the “lessons” we (mostly she) came up with:
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 20, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
Co-author Dave Barry is a well-known syndicated humor columnist; Alan Zweibel has written comedy for television programs including Saturday Night Live and Curb Your Enthusiasm; and Adam Mansbach is the author of Go the F*ck to Sleep and You Have to F*****g Eat – the titles of which indicate a certain enthusiasm for F-bombs, which, in my opinion, appear all too frequently in the current collaboration.
Co-authors Barry, Mansbach and Zweibel have their comedy credits – and that may be enough to make this book popular, despite its very questionable taste. Mixing Torah and F-Bombs, to my way of thinking, is more derision than humor, and the fact that two of the co-authors are themselves Jewish (Barry is a Presbyterian) doesn’t excuse that.
Book Review: ‘A Field Guide to the Jewish People’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
Items in today’s column include:
*Eight Jewish candidates to date; two more would make a minyan
*Beth Israel Quarterly provides personal insights into congregation’s leaders
*The Israel Philatelist Finds Jewish Stamp Stories the World Over
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 19, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
Items in this column include:
*Local businessmen fly to Bahamas to help victims of Hurricane Dorian
*Councilmembers Bry and Campbell often find common ground
*San Diegans will host IDF veterans as they sort out combat memories
*Bible Players to enliven services this weekend at Tifereth Israel Synagogue
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 18, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Items in this column include:
*Sarah Davis is a candidate in 78th Assembly District, not to be confused with others
*Motions heard in Superior Court in Poway of Chabad shooting case
*The Jewish ‘Tam’ of Shari Belafonte
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 17, 2018 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & BroadcastI once had a rabbi who inveighed against religious hypocrisy with this saying: “Big beard, small Jew.”
What Rabbi Aaron Gold, z’l, meant was that some people are tempted to display how scrupulously they stick to ritual, but are unbending and uncaring when it comes to the more important rules of Judaism, as found in the Ten Commandments, such as not to murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, nor to covet your neighbor’s possessions.
Another important rule is to welcome the stranger, and therein lies the essence of the conflict that powers Naomi Ragen’s latest novel, An Unorthodox Match, is which a formerly secular Jew, who is trying to follow an observant life style, is rejected by the very same people who purportedly want her to follow their ways.
Book Review: ‘An Unorthodox Match’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Items in today’s column:
*San Diego County teens, successful in past, may apply for Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards
*Bible, Holocaust, and Israel subjects of new books by local authors
*Barbara Bry gets backing of neighborhoods group in mayoral race
*Sukkot activity planning well underway in the county
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 16, 2019 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
San Diego History Center in Balboa Park and author of The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle, told Rowe that instances of men playing females have long been considered family entertainment. Furthermore, she said, “Some of the highest paid drag queens in the past have identified as heterosexual. It has nothing to do with sexual behavior. It has everything to do with entertainment.”
All of which brings to memory that the 1959 Billy Wilder film, Some Like It Hot, one of the most celebrated movies ever to be filmed at the Hotel del Coronado, starred Marilyn Monroe as a member of an all-girl band that Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon joined, in drag, in an effort to escape from some gangsters.
Our Shtetl San Diego County, September 15, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
In the view of the Gestapo stationed in Paris, Joseph Joanovici was a “useful Jew,” because as a scrap metal dealer he could obtain and sell to the Nazis materials needed for the war effort. At the same time, the French Resistance also thought he was useful because with the money he made as a Nazi collaborator, he was able to help the Resistance obtain weapons. Additionally, he was able to use his contacts within the Nazi hierarchy to free from prison his employees and his Resistance associates.
Playing both sides, Joanovici had friends among the Nazis and friends among the Resistance. He also had more than his share of enemies, who would be happy to kill him once he stopped being “useful.”
Graphic novel profiles World War II profiteer Joanovici Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History
Items in this column include:
* Attorney Joe Leventhal becomes a candidate in 5th City Council District
* Georgette Gomez jumps into race to succeed Congresswoman Susan Davis
* Brushing up on your Jewish knowledge with a game of ‘Jew-perdy’
*A Backyard Challah Bake
* Camp Mountain Chai increases summer sessions from three to four
* Three ‘self-compassionate resolutions’ for the New Year
* And Finally, Some Fun With Numbers
Our Shtetl San Diego County: September 14, 2019 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USASubjects in this Column
* Ray Lutz takes an unnecessary poke at Rep. Susan Davis
* Volunteers sought to interview Holocaust Survivors
* Poverty Simulation Nov. 13 to Learn How Others Live
* The Hive seeks donations of digital photos of San Diego Jewish life
Our Shtetl San Diego: September 13, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, San Diego CountySubjects in this column:
* 2020 may be the year of local exhibits on the Holocaust
* Rabbis weigh in on the controversy over kosher slaughter of animals
* How mayoral candidates are spinning the latest poll
Our Shtetl San Diego: September 12, 2019 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Travel and Food