Wendy Sabin-Lasker named head of San Diego Center for Jewish Culture

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Straight from the world-famous 92nd Street Y on Lexington Avenue, Wendy Sabin-Lasker took the helm the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture the first week of March 2010. At the 92nd Y, Ms. Sabin-Lasker directed daytime programming including the ground-breaking Daytime@ The Steinhardt Building and 92YTribeca geared to baby boomers and […]

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Travel and Food

Enjoying third birthday and third grade field trip for grandsons

  By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—My grandson Sky Masori, recently celebrated his third birthday with his first haircut—a Jewish tradition called an “upsherin” that is being revived across the denominational spectrum. The tradition is based on Leviticus 19:23 in which we are enjoined when coming into a new land not to partake of the

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Donald H. Harrison, Sandi Masori, Shor M. Masori

Japanese-style books make reading to children even more fun

By Donald H. Harrison    SAN DIEGO – The Japanese community of San Diego held a cherry blossom festival last weekend at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park.  It was an event for all the senses.  The colorful costumes of the children and the koi in the pond pleased the eye.  Japanese music gratified

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar, USA

What did Daniel Pearl's declaration of being Jewish really mean?

By Marissa Palin SAN DIEGO–Daniel Pearl’s last words were “My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish.”  These words were spoken on a video filmed by his captors, a Pakistani militant group, stating their demands. Eight years and three days after Daniel’s death, on February 24, 2010,  Dr. Judea Pearl explained the

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Travel and Food

Havya heard of the Hurva?

By Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS, California –What the heck is the Hurva, and what is its current role in Israel-Palestinian and Israel-US tensions?  The Hurva (“ruin” or “wreck” in Hebrew) has become a target for the Palestinian campaign to denigrate Israel’s Jewish heritage, and the Obama administration is cooperating. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is trying to

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Middle East

Boom times in Manta reminiscent of San Diego last century

Last in a series By Donald H. Harrison MANTA, Ecuador—There’s a San Diego feel about this city near the equator.  The same tuna companies – Van Camp, Bumblebee—that once made San Diego their homes now have canneries here.  Although it recently closed, a U.S. Air Force base here that monitored possible drug traffickers in nearby

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Donald H. Harrison

Humor at sea

Fifth in a series By Donald H. Harrison   ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM—The first cruise ship joke I ever heard was about the captain of the famous large ocean liner who had the unusual custom of retreating to his cabin at exactly 12 noon every day, opening his desk drawer, looking at something therein, mumbling to

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Donald H. Harrison

Versatile Adam Shapiro plays many roles during cruise ship gig

Fourth in a series By Donald H. Harrison ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM—In the National Yiddish Theatre in New York, he starred in the title role in the musical based on Isaac Bashevis Singer’s  Gimpel Tam (Gimpel the Fool). In a touring national children’s theatre production, he played Mudge, a big, joyful, sloppy dog  based on the

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Donald H. Harrison

‘Man Overboard!’– Drama aboard MS Rotterdam not to be forgotten

Lifeboat maneuvers to floating object in Pacific during recovery operation.  Photos: Donald H. Harrison ___________________________________________________ By Donald H.  Harrison -Second in a series– ABOARD MS ROTTERDAM –Recovering the body of a man who threw himself overboard and avoiding a possible tsunami in the wake of a large Chilean earthquake were unscheduled and unforgettable events during

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Donald H. Harrison, USA