Donald H. Harrison

[caption id="attachment_119310" align="alignright" width="100"] 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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Our Shtetl San Diego County: May 3, 2020

There’s always something happening in our county, for good or for bad, that is of Jewish community interest For example, Ken Stone of Times of San Diego reported on Sunday that a shopper at the Vons in Santee created quite an uproar with his choice of face mask. He donned the hood of a Ku Klux Klansman … {Donald H. Harrison]

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

Walk a mile in her hijab

More than likely you have heard the expression, “walk a mile in my shoes,” to caution against prejudging what anyone’s life is like.  Jewish filmmaker Nancy Cooperstein Charney poignantly brought that message home at the conclusion of her documentary, Who’s Next, when she filmed a large group of women, presumably non-Muslims, being shown how to put on a hijab, and then marching together in New York City.  I’m not sure, given the Islamophobic atmosphere in the United States today, how many other women would have the courage to do that. {Movie review by Donald H. Harrison]

Walk a mile in her hijab Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Peace Corps documentary narrated by Annette Bening

Actress Annette Bening, who got her start in drama as a student at Patrick Henry High School in San Diego before going on to Broadway and to the movies, is the narrator of a new documentary A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps, which covers approximately 62 years of America helping developing nations, from the inception of the idea in 1958 to the present. It will be shown in theaters later this month. {Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

   Items in today’s column include: *Jewish community coronavirus news *American Jewish history *Never forget *In memoriam By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, in her role as chair of the Council’s Budget Committee, has proposed that “San Diego’s federal coronavirus relief money to be used to fund Internet access for all San

A little bit of this, a little bit of that Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, USA

Coronavirus case reported at Seacrest Village

A culinary worker at Seacrest Village Retirement Community “has tested positive and is quarantined at home,” Pam Ferris, president and CEO of the Jewish-community-run home for senior citizens reported to residents and their families on Thursday evening.  “We are currently following the ‘Criteria for Return to Work for Health Care Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected Covid-19’ guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Coronavirus case reported at Seacrest Village Read More »

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

Sudden fortune challenges Jewish family

What Helen Auerbach’s  youngest daughter initially mistook for costume jewelry was in fact a 137-carat diamond, none other than the Florentine Diamond that had been missing since the end of the Habsburg Dynasty.  Helen left it to her youngest granddaughter Beck, skipping over her daughter Deborah Miller, as well as her other grandchildren Ashley and Jake. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]

Sudden fortune challenges Jewish family Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

ADL panel weighs coronavirus and anti-Semitism

In a webcast sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday, panelists Deborah Lipstadt of Emory University and Jonathan Sarna of Brandeis University were asked if a cure for coronavirus were to be discovered by a Jew, would that reduce anti-Semitism? The two academicians, appearing alongside ADL’s president and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, responded in the negative. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

ADL panel weighs coronavirus and anti-Semitism Read More »

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

Lauren and Sol Lizerbram bring San Diego presence to global Yom Ha’atzma’ut celebration

Sol and Lauren Lizerbram of Rancho Santa Fe had cameo roles in the hour-long, worldwide webcast for Israeli Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzma’ut) that was co-hosted Wednesday by Israeli actress Shira Haas (who stars in the mini-series Unorthodox) and Eric Fingerhut, chairman of the Jewish Federations of North America. Sol Lizerbram is the U.S. President of the Jewish National Fund, which arranged to video the near-private ceremony this year at Mount Herzl in honor of Yom Ha’atzma’ut — near private because of the ban in Israel on gatherings of large groups [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Lauren and Sol Lizerbram bring San Diego presence to global Yom Ha’atzma’ut celebration Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

Biden’s 3-point program to protect religious institutions

Former Vice President Joe Biden, referencing the one-year anniversary of the murder of Lori Gilbert Kaye in a shooting attack on Chabad of Poway, on Tuesday announced a three-point program to protect religious communities. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Biden’s 3-point program to protect religious institutions Read More »

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

Israeli Memorial Day rites include Poway’s Lori Kaye

The name of slain Lori Gilbert Kaye, who died a year ago during a gunman’s attack on Chabad of Poway, was linked Monday in Latrun, Israel, to the names of Israel’s fallen soldiers during an annual Yom Hizakron (Day of Memory) ceremony. To view the entire ceremony on Facebook, click here. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Israeli Memorial Day rites include Poway’s Lori Kaye Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Joe Gandelman, Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Global memorials for Poway’s Lori Gilbert Kaye

With prayers, reflections and songs, first from her home synagogue, Chabad of Poway, and later from around the world, Jews memorialized Lori Gilbert Kaye, who was slain one year ago during a gunman’s attack that also wounded Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein and two congregants, Almog Peretz and his elementary-school-aged niece Noya Dahan. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Global memorials for Poway’s Lori Gilbert Kaye Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food

San Diegans celebrate Michael Jeser’s cancer recovery

  Other items in today’s column include: *Jewish community coronavirus news *Yom HaZikaron/ Yom Ha’Atzma’ut *Political bytes *Recommended reading *In memoriam By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Jewish community members are celebrating the recovery from cancer of Michael Jeser, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County. On April 23, he

San Diegans celebrate Michael Jeser’s cancer recovery Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Travel and Food

On-line memorials Sunday for Chabad of Poway victim

Chabad of Poway will hold an Internet memorial service for the victim of last year’s shooting, Lori Gilbert Kaye, at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 26.  At noon, a separate online ceremony sponsored by the Combat Anti-Semitism movement will be conducted via Zoom and Facebook. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

On-line memorials Sunday for Chabad of Poway victim Read More »

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