SDJW’s Founding Editor Takes His Leave

By Donald H. Harrison

Dear Readers

SAN DIEGO – I’m really not going anywhere, but it is time for me to say thanks for your support as readers and for the memories during my tenure as the founding editor and publisher of San Diego Jewish World.

I write this on December 31, 2021, as Shabbat and the secular New Year approach. When Shabbat is over, Jacob Kamaras will assume his role as the second editor and publisher of this publication.  I hope you will give him the same kind of strong support that you gave to me over the many years I have been covering the San Diego Jewish community.

If you are sending news releases to him, please use the address newsreleases@sdjewishworld.com.  That way he will be sure to get them.  If you send them to me, I’ll relay them but obviously the process won’t be either as quick or as efficient.

In my “retirement,” as editor emeritus, I will be contributing stories regularly to San Diego Jewish World.  As previously announced, every Sunday I will have another story in my series of Jewish stories to be found along the Interstate 5.  The first one will appear on January 2^nd.   Eventually, the entire series will also be published in a two-volume set of books: Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5.

Additionally, I will be writing reviews about other people’s books — nonfiction, fiction, Young Adult, and Children’s – just so long as they pertain to our Jewish people.  Additionally, I’ll be helping to coordinate other SDJW writers who also enjoy writing book reviews.

I’d like to take this occasion to thank the many writers who have regularly contributed their talents to San Diego Jewish World during my tenure. I have already expressed my gratitude to them as a group, but I’d also like to tell the readership that very talented people have been writing for you gratis on a regular basis.  These writers are located in San Diego, in numerous cities across the United States, in Europe, Israel, and elsewhere. Their efforts have been supplemented by stories from the Jewish News Syndicate (of which my successor Jacob Kamaras was the founding editor) as well as Reuters, Agence France Presse, and Deutsche Presse-Aguilar, and a large global network of newspapers.

We also enjoy a news-trading arrangement with three wonderful local websites which I commend to you. Times of San Diego, East County Magazine, and The Moderate Voice.

I believe that Jacob will add more writers to the mix who will bring even greater variety and energy to this free, daily, online publication. I am 76 and semi-retired, whereas Jacob, 35, has a young family that he will need to support while he brings a daily diet of Jewish news to you.  I hope those of you with businesses who would like to reach a Jewish audience will consider advertising on our site.  I also hope that readers will make non-tax-deductible contributions to San Diego Jewish World via the “Donate” tab that may be found atop our homepage. Advertising and donations will insure this publication’s continued health and vitality.

Finally, I would like to publicly thank my wife of 53+ years, Nancy, without whose support I never would have been able to edit San Diego Jewish World nor its predecessor the now defunct San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage.  Many a day, many a night, when we had social engagements, she’d hear me say, ‘Wait, just let me get one more story up on the web’ and she’d patiently allow me to do that.  My daughter, Sandi Masori, and grandson Shor Masori also were of great help. They wrote stories and took photos and videos, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Here’s to 2022 and to the good things that we all hope it will bring!

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In a matter of hours, Donald H. Harrison will become editor emeritus of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com