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.
-41st in a Series– Exit 13B, Jackson Drive, La Mesa ~ Grossmont Center, The Legacies of Adolph Levi, Nathan Straus, Isaias Hellman, and Joseph Sherwood By Donald H. Harrison LA MESA, California – When you see the large “Grossmont Center” sign on the hillside above Jackson Drive, what images come to mind? How about the signs […]
I-8 Jewish Travel: 4 family business stories Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USAThe Prime Ministers: Soldiers and Peacemakers directed by Richard Trask; Moriah Films; USA; 2015; 114 minutes; English, Hebrew; English Subtitles, Documentary; Southern California Films; to be shown twice at the Reading Cinemas 14, at 4665 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, at 5 p.m., Sunday February 7, and at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11; and once the
Film Festival Preview: ‘The Prime Ministers’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USANatasha directed by David Bermozgis/ Russia/ 2015/93 minutes/ Russian and English/ Drama/ San Diego Premiere, playing Saturday, Feb. 6, at 9 p.m., at the Reading Cinemas 14, 4665 Clairemont Drive, San Diego. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – When people immigrate from one country to the next, it often is to get away
Film Festival preview: ‘Natasha’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Dr. Bill Friedel is a modest, self-deprecating, “aw shucks” kind of guy. You recognize that trait not very long into a conversation with him about his career. Why did he become a doctor? He says he thought about being a civil engineer, but what if a bridge he built collapsed? Realizing that
Anachnu: Bill Friedel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– Valencia and Meyer Etz were enthusiastically adopted by the children of the Abraham and Anne Ratner Torah School at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Sunday, Jan. 24, the day of Erev Tu B’Shevat. Tending to the needs of the Etzes, the children brought them food and water and even
Tu B’Shevat, Torah School style Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The chief executive officer of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism once almost gave up on God and religion after his stepmother died and he became estranged from his rabbi father. However, Rabbi Steven Wernick added in an interview that through its outreach, the caring Jewish
Anachnu: Rabbi Steven Wernick Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Jewish Community Centers, Tifereth Israel Synagogue, and the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs all have played important roles in Phil Snyder’s Jewish education, while the entrepreneurial spirit let loose upon swap meets secured his financial base. The West Side JCC in Los Angeles was Phil’s hangout when he was
Anachnu: Phil Snyder Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego CountyThe Price of Sugar directed by Jean van de Veide/ Netherlands, Germany, South Africa/ 2013/120 minutes; Dutch/ English Subtitles/ Drama/ U.S. premiere. To be shown three times at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival: at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 3, and 4 p.m., Thursday Feb. 11 at the Reading Cinemas 14, 4665 Clairemont Drive, San
Film Festival Preview: ‘The Price of Sugar’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – If the Shabbat services at your synagogue are not well attended, then you should ask five questions in reexamining how they are conducted, according to Rabbi Steven Wernick, chief executive officer of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Wernick served as scholar in residence Jan. 22-23 at
Shabbat not well attended? Five questions to ask Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
-40th in a Series- Exit 13 A, Spring Street, La Mesa, California – ‘La Mesa Village’ By Donald H. Harrison LA MESA, California – In the quaint shopping village on both sides of La Mesa Boulevard stands a furniture and accessory store that identifies itself as “Mostly Mission.” A plaque further identifies the building
I-8 Jewish Travel: ‘The Yiddisher Cowboy’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — One memorable day when Bob Holloway was in high school, his track coach said that he was such a good long distance runner he’d like him and other members of the team to compete at summer track meets up and down the state. Thrilled, Holloway came home and told his
Anachnu: Bob Holloway Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – If the listing were in an Almanac, it might read something like this: 250,000th ride, Jewish Family Service’s On The Go Senior Transportation, San Diego: Jan. 20, 2016 Passenger: Anna Ritter. Volunteer Driver: Howard Kugler. Anna Ritter and Howard Kugler never met before Wednesday, Jan. 20, when he
A warm welcome for 250,000th passenger Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County
The Polgar Variant, directed by Yossi Aviram, Israel, 2014, 68 minutes long in Hungarian, English and Hebrew with English subtitles. To be shown twice during the San Diego Jewish Film Festival: Sunday, Feb. 7, at 5 p.m. at the Edwards San Marcos Stadium 18, 1180 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos; and on Thursday, Feb.
Film Festival Preview: ‘The Polgar Variant’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Editor’s note: Anachnu, which means “we” in Hebrew, is a new column by San Diego Jewish World editor and publisher Donald H. Harrison, in which he will tell about the Jews he meets–those who are famous, and those who are not. All of them have interesting and worthwhile stories. By Donald H. Harrison The farther away the event, the
Anachnu: Ruth Messenger Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, USA