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.
(Editor’s Note: In this column, San Diego Jewish World will follow the doings of Jewish candidates and officeholders, boldfacing the names of known members of the Jewish community. We encourage readers to alert us to items that we might otherwise miss via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com) By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– At least four Jewish candidates may […]
The Jewish Citizen: Political season starts anew Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
After the Holocaust the Bells Still Ring by Joseph Polak, © 2015 Urim Publications, 141 pages, ISBN 978-965-524-162-4, $19.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—When Rabbi Joseph Polak and his mother were liberated from Bergen-Belsen, he was not yet three years old. He says that he has no actual memory of his early childhood in
The Holocaust lives inside him Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish HistoryAudacity by Melanie Crowder, Penguin Group Philomel Books, (c) 20015, 385 pages including glossary, family interview, and selected bibliography, $17.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — I suppose, if one stuck strictly to the historical facts, Clara Lemlich’s life could be summarized in a few paragraphs. She grew up in an Orthodox home in
Clara Lemlich’s life, in poetry, is thrilling reading Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
Sleeping Truth by Martin Vesole, Shalom Rav Publishing © 2013, ISBN 978-1937416027, 355 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Mary Poppins was the Disney character who sang about a spoonful of sugar helping the medicine to go down. Presenting this story of a fictional debate between a Christian evangelical and a Reform-leaning Reconstructionist rabbi, who perhaps
Debate between Christian and Jew focus of novel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — A cousin, Liz Halpern, sent to us “Candles,” the first video made by musician Erez Cohen, and we’ve been playing it from the bottom of the San Diego Jewish World home page since the early days of Chanukah. You can also access by touching your cursor here. With two
The making of a Chanukah video Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison LA MESA, California –Did you hear the one about the rabbi, the congresswoman and the mayor who walked into a shopping center during the middle of the December holiday season and lit a giant menorah fashioned from balloons? No, it’s not a joke! It happened on Sunday, Dec. 21, the sixth
Balloon menorah, officials at Chanukah celebration Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—I’ve had the pleasure of being a journalist for more than 52 years, ever since my first byline appeared in the UCLA Daily Bruin in 1962. Over those years, I’ve interviewed more people than I can count and I long ago lost track of all the stories I’ve written. But
On being on the other side of the interview Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Although San Diego City Councilman Todd Gloria didn’t identify them by religion, the people who inspired him to go into politics were members of the San Diego Jewish community. And the man who made him think about quitting politics in despair also was Jewish. The latter was former
Gloria tells his budget priorities for San Diego Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—While Laurie Berman was growing up as one of the few Jewish girls in her small Michigan city, her parents urged her to become a doctor. However, volunteering during her high school years at a local hospital, she realized that she didn’t like the sight of blood and decided
Not an MD but Berman is expert on ‘arteries’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food
Story by Donald H. Harrison; Photos by Solange SAN DIEGO – With Islamist terrorism striking globally and Palestinians and their supporters attempting to intimidate Jewish college students across America, StandWithUs put together a multi-religious line-up of speakers Sunday evening, Dec. 7, whose message, taken in the aggregate, was that the Jewish community is not alone,
Speakers of several faiths stand with Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–When the IT’SUGAR company of Deerfield Beach, Florida, offered Chanukah candies for sampling, I decided to turn to some local experts: my grandsons, Shor, 13, and Sky, 7; and Shor’s friend, Max Gideon, 13, for a knowledgeable evaluation. The candy company had two chocolates for tasting. One was a box
‘Gelty Pleasure’ gets nod over ‘Oy to the World’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Two West Coast balloon artists—Sandi Masori of San Diego, California, and Rachel Porter of Seattle, Washington—have teamed up to produce a book-and-video combination explaining how do-it-yourself (DIY) party planners can create special decorations for their parties and special events. The DIY Balloon Bible for All Seasons: How To Wow Your
Balloon Decorations for the Do It Yourself crowd Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
Niputi (The Nephew): Live under the shadow of a Mafia killer by Joseph Bonpensiero (c) 2014 via Create Space, ISBN: 9780989795005; 438 pages plus appendices and bibliography. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Joseph Bonpensiero’s Uncle Frank, who spelled his last name slightly differently –Bompensiero—didn’t have much use for Jews. Every filthy name, every
Tearing the covers off San Diego’s underside Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO– Shmaltz Brewing Company, brewers and bottlers of He-Brew Beer, has issued in time for the Dec. 16-24 Chanukah holiday a new special-label beer. It’s called “Hanukkah, Chanukah Beer,” apparently with an eye toward not taking sides in the age-old debate about how the name of the 8-day holiday should
Chanukah Beer passes amateurs’ taste test Read More »
Donald H. Harrison