Donald H. Harrison

Donald H. Harrison

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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Young Israel Moved from Tenant to Landlord in San Carlos Neighborhood

Young Israel of San Diego has progressed from renter to landlord in the small shopping center diagonally across from the trailhead of Cowles Mountain in the San Carlos neighborhood.  Rabbi Eddie Rosenberg says the turnaround in the small Orthodox congregation’s fortunes was “miraculous.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Rescued Animals Help Children Learn about Conservation at SeaWorld

Spike, the alligator, was discovered 32 years ago in Los Angeles in someone’s bathtub. If an alligator is discovered in the wild, and in need of rescue because of an injury, it is released back to the wild after being nursed to health.  However, in the case of alligators found illegally in domestic settings, they are taken to live permanently at rescue centers because the circumstances of their breeding are unknown.  Alligators that are in-bred by unscrupulous breeders may carry defective genes that should not be released into the wild alligator gene pool, Kerschner explained. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, The World We Share, Travel and Food

Master Woodworker Bill Goldschneider Focuses on Jewish Themes

He has created so much Judaica that he stands ready to exhibit more than 50 pieces if an appropriate venue can be found, such as a synagogue or a Jewish center. He even has devised special cases in which to transport his creations, so that such an exhibition can be taken on the road. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Judaism, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

Reform Rabbi Draws on His Jewish and Latino Heritage

His parents’ diverse cultural backgrounds “in one way were symbiotic and, in others, very separate, Nevarez reflected. “At different times in my life, I was uncomfortable about them; I didn’t know how to wed the two.” Later in life, however, “I have not only embraced it; it has actually extended my capacity to do what I do in the world, which is my rabbinate, and to be able to be in a relationship with different cultures and ethnicities because of my background.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County

‘A Small Light’ Leaves a Big Impression about the Holocaust

Many of us grew up with the story of Anne Frank. I read her diary, saw a movie and plays about her, read books by people who knew her, even interviewed one of her contemporaries. Although I was quite familiar with the important role Miep Gies had played in Anne Frank’s life, it was not until I watched this dramatization that I came to understand the intensity of Miep’s experience and the vast contours of her bravery as well as that of her husband Jan. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

San Diego Unified School District Board Formally Recognizes Jewish American Heritage Month

With only one day of Jewish American Heritage Month remaining, the San Diego Unified School Board on Tuesday, May 30, unanimously recognized May as Jewish American Heritage Month and encouraged “staff, students, and community members to raise awareness and educate future generations about Jewish Americans and their role in the diverse fabric of our country and communities and in the American experience.” [Donald H. Harrison]

San Diego Unified School District Board Formally Recognizes Jewish American Heritage Month Read More »

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

Year-Long Holocaust Exhibition Features Survivors Who Settled in S.D. County

There is much to read in addition to the shelved books at the Rancho San Diego County Library.  From now until next May 21, which will be the one-year anniversary of a Holocaust exhibition curated by Sandra Scheller, visitors can read on standing panels a brief timeline of the Holocaust and the experiences of some victims who suffered through it and later settled in San Diego County. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County

Eagle Scout Builds an Aron Kodesh for Chabad Congregation

At the dedication on Sunday, considerable symbolism was found in a Cohen (believed to be descended from the priests of ancient Judaism) to have built an Ark at a synagogue named after “Betzalel,” which in addition to being the name of Rabbi Trestman’s father also was the name of the person identified in the Book of Exodus as the man who built the Ark of the Covenant, with the help of Oholiab. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County

Jewish Philanthropist Mandell Weiss Gave Famed La Jolla Playhouse Its Home

It is a playhouse with good yichus.  It was started in 1947 by three movie stars – Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer—with the financial backing of movie producer David D. Selznick, who was then best known for his 1939 blockbuster Gone With the Wind. [Donald H. Harrison]

Jewish Philanthropist Mandell Weiss Gave Famed La Jolla Playhouse Its Home Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Of Robots, Banned Books, Dying, and Abortions

Elkins was one of three presenters at a Tikun Leil Shavuot, a Shavuot night study session at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. The others were Marcia Tatz Wollner, who spoke about book banning and burning through the ages, and Dr. Seth Krosner, M.D., a critical care surgery specialist, who discussed what Jewish texts have to say about decisions concerning end of life and abortions. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Technology

Popular Instructor Says Judaism and Yoga are Complementary

When an acquaintance suggested that she try yoga, Gadd was skeptical at first. “How can that help me?” she asked. “Just come and see,” counseled the acquaintance. Moving her body in specific ways, according to the directions of her yoga instructor, “led to clarity of thought,” she said.  Mindfulness helped her “dissipate the stress, the mental shpilkes, something like giving your dog exercise so it can calm down,” Gadd recalled. She found that she left the yoga sessions feeling better, without need for medications. “Deep breathing and so forth can create physiological changes,” she explained. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions

American Investigative Reporter Probes Cases of Jews Murdered by Poles

Five members of the Rożeńek family were pulled from their hiding places in 1944 by armed members of a militia, forced to jump from a second-story window, and riddled with bullets on their way down.  One member of the family, who was hiding in an outbuilding, observed the massacre and escaped into obscurity. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History

Short History of the ‘New Jerusalem’ School and Airport in Tracy

Back in 1874, California pioneer Henry Ebe donated two acres of land for the school that his and his wife Susan’s 11 children would eventually attend. At Susan’s insistence, he made a condition of his donation that the school be called the “New Jerusalem Elementary School.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA