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.
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—In the 1820s, the hacienda built within the Presidio walls for California’s first Mexican governor, Jose Maria de Echeandia, commanded a view of other habitations and San Diego Bay. It was located on the hill below where the Serra Museum stands today, in the area where the brick and tile […]
San Diego’s historic places: Serra Museum Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Screened from the major part of San Diego Bay by the 1.5 mile-long Harbor Island—which was created in 1961 from materials dredged to make San Diego Bay deeper for large naval vessels – Spanish Landing requires a leap of the imagination to appreciate its historic significance. Approximately
San Diego’s historic places: Spanish Landing Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—No one knows for sure how he spelled his name—was it Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho or Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo? No one knows for certain his nationality. Was he Portuguese or a Spaniard? Where he was born is a mystery. So is where he died. And the name he gave
San Diego’s historic places: Cabrillo National Monument Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison EL CAJON, California — If it appears during fall that it has been snowing in the California Native Plants Garden at Grossmont College, don’t bother checking the thermometer or calling the Guiness Book of Records. The white precipitate isn’t snow at all, but in fact is a
San Diego historic places: A native plant garden at Grossmont College Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—The Visitors and Interpretive Center of Mission Trails Regional Park is low-tech compared to razzmatazz commercial attractions like Disneyland or Sea World, but it effectively teaches about Native American life and about nature. Its exhibits appeal to a full range of age groups with a variety of learning styles. Whether
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—There are some 40 miles of trails in Mission Trails Regional Park along the San Diego River and surrounding grasslands and mountains. Hikers can view Kumeyaay and Spanish archaeological sites, possibly encounter some endangered animals and some dangerous ones, and be introduced to plants with characteristics so interesting they almost
San Diego’s historic places: Mission Trails Regional Park offers insights into Kumeyaay Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Janet Bartel, chief docent at San Diego Mission, treads as carefully as a performer on a tightrope when discussing the Kumeyaay Indian experience at Mission San Diego, There have been too many controversies not to. In September 1988, Pope John Paul II beatified Father Junipero Serra saying that
San Diego’s historic places: Mission San Diego tells circumspect tale of Kumeyaay life Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – One of the nicest things that one can do for other people is to remember their names, especially after they have died. Just by saying or writing people’s names is to testify to their existence, to the fact that, as individuals, they walked the face of
San Diego’s historic places: Museum of Man exhibit tells of Kumeyaay life Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonSAN DIEGO –Donald H. Harrison, editor of San Diego Jewish World, inaugurates a series today on historic places in San Diego County. The series is built on current reportage as well as upon research that Harrison has done as the author of Louis Rose: San Diego’s First Jewish Settler and Entrepreneur (Sunbelt Publications, 2005)
Introducing a new series on San Diego's historic places Read More »
Donald H. HarrisonMemo to our readers: Some of you may be wondering why some comments are posted below stories, and others aren’t. Our editors usually have the opportunity to review comments before they are posted. As a matter of policy we send to the trash comments that include abusive language; generic attacks on any nationality, racial group, religious group, gender
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Donald H. HarrisonBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – For a moment, my daughter and grandson looked at me as if I were Dan Brown revealing not the secrets of the Da Vinci Code, but the hidden messages in the Harry Potter code. I had told them that author J.K. Rowling had put herself into the Harry
Is ‘Hermione’ part of J.K. Rowling’s secret code in the Harry Potter series? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO— It has taken awhile to read the books presented to me by family members for Chanukah, but as it turned out, my grandson Shor’s selection of Feingold: A New Democratic Party couldn’t have been more timely. As I finished reading the biography written by Sanford D. Horwitt, I
Feingold biography a timely resource Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Okoronkwo Umeham and his wife, Gail Feurzeig Umeham, have heard rumors that the Mexican government may apologize for his wrongful incarceration in a Tijuana Federal Detention Center earlier this month, but so far that is all that the reports have turned out to be – rumors. To my
Schmooze and News for all us Jews Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USA
Broken Birds: The Story of My Momila by Jeanette Katzir, www.brokenbirds.com , 2009, ISBN-10: 978-0-615-27483-6, 375 pages, $17.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – I once had a friend who seemed to take sustenance from hearing about other people’s troubles. She had a bundle of her own problems, and seemed to light up learning,
Family squabbles detract from Holocaust memoir Read More »
Donald H. Harrison