SAN DIEGO — Our nation and world are engaged in a period of major controversies — politics, social justice, coronavirus pandemic response — and our team of independent writers on San Diego Jewish World have a variety of opinions.
Whatever your ideological position, you will agree with some of our writers, disagree with others, and perhaps find a few whose analyses may prompt you to reconsider your own positions on these and other controversies.
As the editor and co-publisher of San Diego Jewish World, I believe it is the mission of this publication to provide a forum, underscored by civility, in which members of the Jewish community, and friends of the Jewish community, can discuss issues among ourselves, as we all try to determine what actions and attitudes are helpful for our fellow Jews as well as for the wider community.
There are some readers who want only to see their own points of view in San Diego Jewish World — considering anything written from an opposing perspective as a form of heresy.
They will be disappointed. We like to present many different points of view. That applies not only to current events in the secular world, but also to religious thought in the Jewish world.
I often disagree with the opinions of our writers, but nevertheless I respect them.
If you think about it, there are not many places in the Jewish world where people with differing opinions can get together for discussion and debate. All too many of us retreat to our “silos,” where we meet comfortably with friends who have similar views on politics or religion. Whether intentionally, or not, we cut ourselves off from opposing viewpoints.
Here, in the friendly confines of this daily online publication, you can meet people of opposite viewpoints, while understanding that we all are Jews, or friends of our people, and that we want what is best for all of us.
There are some readers who believe that our overall coverage tilts in one direction or another. Ours is a fully volunteer organization: we print those stories and commentaries that are submitted to us by our cadre of regular reporters and commentators, who I’m proud to say number more than 50, as well as from occasional writers who wish to provide additional input to our readers. I’m always interested in attracting more writers to our group.
If you feel that your “side” of an issue is not being covered, please send to me an Op-Ed piece that you have written that might be considered for publication. You can get it right to me via editor@sdjewishworld.com
Some people are tempted to send to me articles written by writers for other publications. We do not have the right to reprint works from other publications except by specific agreement. So, again, please send to us your original work.
Finally, I’d like to comment on letters to the editor, which typically may be found in the boxes below individual articles. Many readers, especially those who hide behind the veil of anonymity, like to send strongly worded letters in which they will launch personal attacks either against the writer with whom they disagree, or third parties mentioned in the article.
We try not to print letters that attack people. We will print letters that debate ideas.
I hope that you will consider becoming more involved with San Diego Jewish World, either as the writer of original articles, or as a thoughtful and civil letter writer.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage you to take a free daily subscription to our publication. Simply scroll to the bottom of this page, enter your email address, and then follow the “double opt-in” verification procedures. Starting the next day, you will begin receiving an interactive summary of the stories developed during the preceding 24 hours. I think some of you will find San Diego Jewish World to be habit-forming.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
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