Donald H. Harrison

Donald H. Harrison

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.

Alex Grass: Rite Aid’s Success Led to His Many Philanthropies

Editor’s Note: This is the 21st chapter in Volume 3 of Publisher and Editor Donald H. Harrison’s 2022 trilogy, “Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5.” All three books as well as others written by Harrison may be purchased from Amazon.com. Schlepping and Schmoozing Along the Interstate 5, Volume 3, Exit 49 (Tamarack Avenue): Rite […]

Alex Grass: Rite Aid’s Success Led to His Many Philanthropies Read More »

Ben Dishman, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Supervisor Lawson-Remer Regrets Vote to Place Taha Hassane on Human Relations Commission

I was very concerned however, so after the meeting, I searched for and found a full video of the remarks that were referred to during the public testimony, and found the Imam’s remarks to be truly awful, and I immediately regretted the vote I made.  I do not support Imam Taha Hassane being on the County’s Human Relations Commission. [Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer]

Supervisor Lawson-Remer Regrets Vote to Place Taha Hassane on Human Relations Commission Read More »

Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA, Videos

Commentary: Two Local Jewish Elected Officials Vote Against Israel

At the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Imam Mohamed Taha Hassane of the Islamic Center of San Diego was reappointed to the Leon L. Williams County’s Human Relations Commission over the objections of an ad hoc group called Stand With Israel whose members decried the local Muslim leader’s defense of the October 7th massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas. [Donald H. Harrison]

Commentary: Two Local Jewish Elected Officials Vote Against Israel Read More »

Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Shanda File, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Democratic Senate Candidates in California Split on Israeli Ceasefire; Agree on Combating Domestic Antisemitism

The most significant difference among the candidates was their answers to the ceasefire question.  While she favors eliminating Hamas as the power controlling Gaza, Lee said, “what I don’t think will assure Israel’s security is killing 26,000 women and children and civilians.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Democratic Senate Candidates in California Split on Israeli Ceasefire; Agree on Combating Domestic Antisemitism Read More »

Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Symposium Told a New Strategy Needed to Combat Antisemitism

America’s Jewish community always knew that there was no vaccine or antidote for the disease of antisemitism, but prior to Oct. 7th, it felt the disease could be kept in check.  “We developed a containment strategy, a firewall, to make sure that here we could keep it in the sewers, with the covers on,” Abe Foxman told a “Standing Together” symposium Sunday that was jointly sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Federation of San Diego. [Donald H. Harrison]

Symposium Told a New Strategy Needed to Combat Antisemitism Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA

Letter from the Editor: How San Diego Jewish World is Changing

Beginning January 1st when I resumed my former position as publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World, we have been taking steps to expand and improve our coverage of the Jewish communities in San Diego, elsewhere in the U.S., Israel, and around the world. [Donald H. Harrison]

Letter from the Editor: How San Diego Jewish World is Changing Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA

Former Shin Bet Interrogator Profiles Hamas Leader Yahya al-Sinwar in SDJW Interview

“They shouldn’t have sent him out of prison,” Koubi said. “I knew that he would make a lot of trouble. Sinwar had murderous eyes. He hates Israelis, Jews, and the ‘infidels’ — a very deep hating. He knew the Koran by heart and the charter of Hamas by heart. He told me even that they were planning to kidnap more Israeli soldiers. He was right unfortunately.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Former Shin Bet Interrogator Profiles Hamas Leader Yahya al-Sinwar in SDJW Interview Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Rabbi Nevarez Hopes to Calm Troubled County Human Relations Commission

“I’m not adding to the vitriol. My goal is to do my small part to help move the HRC away from that and into the effective, on-the-ground work that it was meant to do.” [SDJW staff]

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Rabbi Nevarez Hopes to Calm Troubled County Human Relations Commission Read More »

Ben Dishman, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Ralph Lauren Willed Himself Into the Good Life

After he decided to market the ties on his own, executives at Bloomingdale’s wanted him to narrow the tie slightly and Lauren daringly refused. Although winning Bloomingdales’ account, in anyone else’s eyes, would have been a big victory, Lauren had larger ambitions to become himself a name brand. Lauren found other stores to sell the wide tie to, and as their popularity increased, Bloomingdale’s resistance correspondingly decreased. Whereas thin ties sold at the time for $5, Lauren’s ties commanded between $7.50 and $15. The more people paid for them, the more they valued them. [Donald H. Harrison]

Ralph Lauren Willed Himself Into the Good Life Read More »

Antisemitism, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Academy Award-Nominated Short to Screen at SD International Jewish Film Festival

The 17-minute Letter to a Pig, a nominee for an Academy Award as the Best Animated Short Film, will be screened at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 5, at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival. [SDJW staff report]

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Academy Award-Nominated Short to Screen at SD International Jewish Film Festival Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Ken Stone, Obituaries & memorials, Opinion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Kaspare Cohn’s Legacies: Union Bank, Cedars-Sinai Hospital

Cohn was just 20 years old when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1859 from Loebau, Prussia, to work for his uncle Harris Newmark. His introduction to the primitive banking system in 19th century California came when his uncle had him sleep on the floor of the family grocery store as a way of safeguarding the finances of Los Angeles County. [Donald H. Harrison]

Kaspare Cohn’s Legacies: Union Bank, Cedars-Sinai Hospital Read More »

Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

July, September May Be Best Months to See Jewish Baseball Heritage in Action

The San Diego Padres will play five teams at Petco Park in May. Two of them–the Colorado Rockies and the New York Yankees — have Jewish players, Rockies pitcher Jake Bird and Yankees pitcher Scott Effross.  The Padres, who do not have a Jewish player, have designated the middle game of the May 13-15 series with the Rockies as the day to celebrate Jewish heritage at Petco Park.  May is nationally recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month. [Donald H. Harrison]

July, September May Be Best Months to See Jewish Baseball Heritage in Action Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA