How a Sightseeing Company Got its Start in San Diego

This chapter is a chance for me to step again from third-person history into first-person history because I was highly involved in the start-up in 1989 of Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego. It came about because through The Harrison Enterprises, the public relations agency which I owned, I served as the executive director of the San Diego Cruise Industry Consortium. The consortium was created in 1983 under the aegis of Acting Mayor Bill Cleator to attract cruise ships to the Port of San Diego. Previously, I had served as communications director for Cleator during the period he served as a city councilman and acting mayor. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA

Jewish Studies Scholar Richard Freund (1955-2022)

By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — Dr. Richard A. Freund passed away in Charlottesville, Virginia on July 14, 2022 from complications arising from the rejection of a bone marrow transplant he had received 18 years ago.  He held an MA, PhD, and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Bertram and Gladys Aaron

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Jewish History, Lawrence Baron, San Diego County, USA

Jacobs’ Bill Would Protect Right to Contraception

“As a young woman, reproductive health care is my health care. And like all reproductive rights, the right to contraception is vital to our wellbeing and our freedom,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “It’s unconscionable to me that right-wing Supreme Court Justices would once again threaten our ability to make decisions about our own bodies and when to start or grow a family. I will never stop fighting to protect the right to an abortion, the right to contraception, and all reproductive rights – and I’m proud to co-lead the Right to Contraception Act.” [Press Release]

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Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Genesis Prize Ceremony Relied on Work of Doctor/ Author Ron Eisenberg

A highlight of the proceedings was a ten-minute video, Jews in Medicine: A Legacy of Healing and Hope, much of it based on the book written by Dr. Ron Eisenberg, Jews inMedicine: Contributions to Health and Healing Through the Ages (Urim Publications, 2019). [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Biden Will Find Abbas Opposed to Two-State Solution’s Requirements

Before he meets with Palestinian Authority (PA) strongman Mahmoud Abbas on Friday, Biden should be aware that Abbas has already rejected the notion of “normalization” of relations between the PA, Israel and the Arab States, nixing the principle of accepting the State of Israel, i.e., nixing a solution ending in two states. [Shoshana Bryen]

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen

Demographic Survey Planned for San Diego County Jewish Community

Recognizing the need for valid and actionable data that serves the entire community, Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center – Jacobs Family Campus, and the Leichtag Foundation have come together to conduct a study of the San Diego and Temecula Jewish community. [Jewish Family Service]

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California, San Diego County

‘B.C.’; ‘New’ Testament and Other Historic Mistakes

The concept of BC and AD was apparently invented by a monk around the year 533 who thought Jesus was born 533 years before the day he invented the system. BC stood for “before Christ” and AD for the Latin “anno domini.” the year of our Lord. He was mistaken. [Rabbi Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion

King George VI Personally Pinned Medal on Jewish Air Raid Warden

September 23, 1940, German bombs smashed into a residential pub in Manor Park, Newham, a few blocks from where Lewis was stationed.  Beneath the pub was a bomb shelter with 60 people trapped inside. The building burning, collapsing. A water main burst. The basement shelter was flooding, threatening to drown any survivors. 
Lewis and a colleague ran to the site. [Jerry Klinger]

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History

The Saga of a Boy with a Congenitally Broken Heart

Congenital heart disease is not rare and affects 1 in 110 babies with varying degrees of severity. Treatment options offered to Sarah and Matt Hammitt were compassionate care, a full heart transplant, or three surgeries intended to extend Bowen’s life. A documentary, feature-length film, Bowen’s Heart, reveals the challenges, fears, and hopes of Bowen, his three siblings, and his parents. The Hammitt family and the co-directors of the film, Lexi and Zach Read, sought to develop awareness, empathy and support for families living with chronic illness. Their goal was most certainly achieved. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast