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.

An Imaginative Tale About the First Jew to Set Foot in the New World

This large format book for elementary school-aged children is about Luis de Torres, who was the interpreter for Christopher Columbus on his 1492 voyage of discovery. Some of the story is true, as best as historians can tell; more of the story comes from the rich imagination of authorTami Lehman-Wilzig. Overall, it should be considered a work of historical fiction, rather than history. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History

Workshop Highlights Holocaust Experiences and Research

Spielberg established the Shoah Foundation, which is headquarters in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, after making the impactful Holocaust movie Schindler’s List.  UC San Diego’s former head librarian Brian Schottlaender, consulting with History Prof. Deborah Hertz, decided during the 2006-2007 academic year to lease the database and to make it available for free to anyone on campus. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Technology, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Videos

The Jewish Eye: San Diego Teen Philanthropists; Mayorkas, Sanders Under Fire

In Jewish tradition, the fate of the world depends upon 36 upstanding people known as the Lamed Vavniks.  As a matter of interest, there are 36 leaders and officers of the Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF) in San Diego County.  They will be awarding philanthropic funds that they have raised to various nonprofit organization at a 4 p.m. ceremony Sunday May 21 at Congregation Beth Am in the Carmel Valley neighborhood of San Diego.  [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: San Diego Teen Philanthropists; Mayorkas, Sanders Under Fire Read More »

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The Jewish Eye: Immigration Surge; Sanders Promotes ‘Nakba’ Day

U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) offered these thoughts on surging immigration: “The Biden-Harris Administration has prepared for the end of Title 42, but no amount of planning can make up for the fact that Congress has abdicated its responsibility to pass comprehensive and inclusive immigration reform for decades. [Donald H. Harrison}

The Jewish Eye: Immigration Surge; Sanders Promotes ‘Nakba’ Day Read More »

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The Jewish Eye: Dianne Feinstein Returns to U.S. Senate; Disney Fires Back at Florida’s DeSantis

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) has returned to the Senate in a wheelchair after more than a two-month absence while recuperating from shingles. Democrats have needed the vote of the 89-year-old Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee to approve President Biden’s judicial nominees. [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Dianne Feinstein Returns to U.S. Senate; Disney Fires Back at Florida’s DeSantis Read More »

Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

The Jewish Eye: Trump Accuser Awarded $5 Million; Debt Ceiling Showdown Continues

A jury in the federal courtroom of Judge Lewis Kaplan deliberated less than three hours before awarding former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll $5 million. They found that former President Donald Trump had sexually assaulted her and defamed her, but did not come to the conclusion that Carroll had been raped. [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Trump Accuser Awarded $5 Million; Debt Ceiling Showdown Continues Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

The Jewish Eye: Trump ‘Rape’ Case Heads to Jury; Legislation in 2 States to Combat Antisemitsim

Barry Schneider, a past commander of the Jewish War Veterans, and Combat Antisemitism Movement Adam Beren were among speakers at the Oklahoma State House on Monday when Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a declaration declaring that every May henceforth will be designated Jewish American Heritage Month in Oklahoma.  In Virginia, meanwhile, Gov. Glenn Youngkin also declared May to be Jewish American Heritage Month in his state and also signed a declaration adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Trump ‘Rape’ Case Heads to Jury; Legislation in 2 States to Combat Antisemitsim Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish History, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

The Jewish Eye: Transgender Rights; Fighting Antisemitism; Israel-Palestinian Conflict in California Senate Race

Current and former San Diego County Rabbis Nadav Caine (formerly Cong. Ner Tamid), Mark Hurvitz (formerly Etz Chaim), Dana Magat (formerly Beth Israel), Jason Nevarez (Beth Israel), Yaffa-Shira Sultan (formerly Dor Hadash) and Nicole Nevarez, national director of Ta’amod Stand Up, are among 1,885 Americans so far who have signed an open letter from the Keshet organization in support of LGBTQ+ rights that calls upon Jewish leaders to embrace transgender Jews and to “use your voice and your platform to speak out for our kids and our community. Follow the lead of the Central Conference for Reform Rabbis, who issued a powerful resolution defending transgender people.  Demand that your elected officials take action for trans rights and LGBTQ+ equality.” [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Transgender Rights; Fighting Antisemitism; Israel-Palestinian Conflict in California Senate Race Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Technology, USA

Prof. Deborah Hertz Researches Liberated Jewish Women

Deborah Hertz, a UC San Diego historian who holds the Herman Wouk Chair in Modern Jewish Studies, has focused in her career on Jewish women who broke free of the bonds of “daughter, wife, and mother” and made their marks in a variety of fields. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

The Jewish Eye: Safe Parking Lots; Supreme Court Trips; Charles III’s Coronation

San Diego City Councilwoman Dr. Jen Campbell joined San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Supervisor Nora Vargas in the opening of a Safe Parking Lot in the Rose Canyon area for homeless people.  She said: “We know that permanent housing is the solution to ending homelessness. This Safe Parking Lot in Clairemont offers social work, 24-hour security, meals, and help with job searches and resumes.” She thanked Jewish Family Service of San Diego for its “constant work in coordinating the Safe Parking Lot Program.” [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Safe Parking Lots; Supreme Court Trips; Charles III’s Coronation Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, San Diego County, USA

The Jewish Eye: Infrastructure Improvements; Washington DC Ethics; Teaching About ‘Others’

San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera says the Council has only reluctantly consented to adding two lanes to State Route 56. While it may ease traffic flow on the route that connects the Interstate 5 and the Interstate 15, it also encourages even more gasoline-powered traffic. “This is not a win from a climate perspective,” Elo-Rivera was quoted Thursday in The San Diego Union-Tribune. “We need to own that and recognize that and do everything we can to turn the wheel in the right direction as quickly as possible.” [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Infrastructure Improvements; Washington DC Ethics; Teaching About ‘Others’ Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

The Jewish Eye: Renters’ Protection; Trump-Carroll Civil Trial Wrapping Up; Anti-Israel Boycotts

San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera says when he was working as an intern at a legal clinic in the City Heights neighborhood, “Week after week, the most common issue community members sought assistance with was housing. We heard from renters who had received eviction notices despite not doing anything wrong or who were facing significant increases in rent they would not be able to afford.  Others were living in slum-like conditions and facing threats of being reported for their immigration status if they spoke out.  … I was convinced the impact I wanted to make in the community was less likely to come via legal work and more likely to come via policy work.”  Elo-Rivera expressed satisfaction that the City Council had passed his Tenant Protection Ordinance, which “will expand rights for hundreds of thousands of San Diegans.  They will have protections on the first day of their lease, they will receive a lifeline of support when they are forced to move at no fault of their own, and they will have better access to legal representation to ensure their rights are respected.” [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Renters’ Protection; Trump-Carroll Civil Trial Wrapping Up; Anti-Israel Boycotts Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

The Jewish Eye: S.D.-Bound Israeli Professors; U.S. Supreme Court Controversies

Susan Lapidus, director of the Murray Galinson San Diego-Israel Initiative, has announced next semester’s lineup of Israeli professors who will be teaching at two major universities in San Diego County.  Coming to San Diego State University are historians Amos Nadan and Yoav Alon and poet Maya Tevet Dayan, all from Tel Aviv University; filmmaker Uri Bar-on from Reichman University; and literary scholar Dekel Shay Schory who divides her time between Hebrew University and Ben-Gurion University.  Coming to UC San Diego are filmmaker Dan Geva from Beit Berl Academic College and anthropologist Dan Rabinowitz from Tel Aviv University. [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: S.D.-Bound Israeli Professors; U.S. Supreme Court Controversies Read More »

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