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.

The Jewish Eye: Debt Limit Deadline; Cardin Retiring; Genesis Award for Streisand

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told congressional leaders on Monday that unless the debt ceiling is raised, the United States could be left with insufficient funds to pay its debts as soon as June 1.  In a letter she wrote: “After reviewing recent federal tax receipts, our best estimate is that we will be unable to satisfy all of the government’s obligations by early June, and potentially as early as June 1, if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit before that time.”  President Joe Biden has invited congressional leaders to come to the White House on May 9 to see if an agreement can be reached. [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Debt Limit Deadline; Cardin Retiring; Genesis Award for Streisand Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Documentary Intimately Records Eli Timoner’s Choice to End His Life

The heartbreaking loss of lives in the airplane crash resulted in Air Florida going into bankruptcy, and the stroke reduced Timoner’s earning capacity. He held on for nearly 40 years, but when congestive heart failure made him even more dependent on others, he decided that as a California resident he would take advantage of the Golden State’s “Right to Die” Law. [Donald H. Harrison]

Documentary Intimately Records Eli Timoner’s Choice to End His Life Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

The Jewish Eye: Outdoor Menorah; Banning Books; Gun Safety

Barry Soper, who has contributed to many political campaigns, now has political figures donating money to build a new, less destructible outdoor menorah at Chabad of San Diego State University, which is led by Rabbi Chalom Boudjnah.  Among contributors are the current and previous two San Diego County Assessors/ Clerks/ Recorders respectively Jordan Marks, Ernie Dronenburg, and Greg Smith.  The menorah, which symbolizes the Jewish hope to bring light into the world, has been vandalized on several occasions over the years.  Overseeing construction of a new one is Joshua Soper, son of Barry Soper. [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Outdoor Menorah; Banning Books; Gun Safety Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Sanctuary Modeled After Those of Lost Eastern European Communities

Stone’s first thought was to commission I.M. Pei himself to “design a building that takes in an old sanctuary from Eastern Europe that was destroyed in the Holocaust and use concrete and glass to rebuild it – an ode to the past in a modern context.” At the nearby library of UC San Diego, Ryan found illustrated books about the synagogues of Eastern Europe, whose congregants had been annihilated in the Holocaust. Synagogues Without Jews by Rifka and Ben-Zion Dorfman proved particularly helpful. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA

The Jewish Eye: Anne Frank, King David in the News; Another Resignation Call for Feinstein

The famed Michelangelo sculpture of the biblical David, portrayed as a naked young man with a sling over his shoulder and a rock in his hand, was viewed in Florence, Italy, on Friday by Hope Carrasquilla, the former principal of Tallahassee (Florida) Classical school who was ousted from her position after parents complained she permitted students to see a picture of the statue without their permission. The museum’s director, Cecilie Hollberg, commented that David “has nothing to do with pornography” but rather is a “religious symbol of purity and innocence, the victory of good over evil.” [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Anne Frank, King David in the News; Another Resignation Call for Feinstein Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, San Diego County, The World We Share, USA

Patrick Henry HS ‘Jerome the Giraffe’ Wins Imagery Award at World Competition

The judges at the FIRST World Robotics Competition held April 19-22 in Houston, Texas, were mighty impressed with the looks of “Jerome the Giraffe,” a San Diego robot manufactured at Patrick Henry High School. The usual nickname for Patrick Henry teams is the “Patriots” but the robotics club made a slight change in the name. Their team is the “Patribots.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Patrick Henry HS ‘Jerome the Giraffe’ Wins Imagery Award at World Competition Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Technology, Travel and Food, USA

Forum Illustrates American Jewish Uneasiness over Israeli Policies

Congregants of Tifereth Israel Synagogue observed Israel Independence Day on Wednesday night with singing, dancing, flag waving, and a frank discussion about the embarrassment some feel over the current course of the Israeli government. [Donald H. Harrison]

Forum Illustrates American Jewish Uneasiness over Israeli Policies Read More »

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

The Jewish Eye: Eviction Protection; Prostitution Clampdown; Trump’s Court Battles; Israel’s Independence Day

By a margin of 8-1, the San Diego City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to an ordinance that would require landlords to provide two to three months rent money to blameless tenants whom they have evicted. Seniors would receive a greater allowance under the proposal. Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, who proposed the ordinance that will come up for a final vote May 16, commented: “San Diegans who are paying their rent and abiding by their lease should not live in fear of eviction.  Sadly, too often, San Diego renters are being evicted despite the rules.  These evictions cause massive financial and emotional distress to families and can lead to displacement and put people at risk of homelessness. This ordinance provides the protections that San Diego renters need and deserve.”  Councilwoman Dr. Jen Campbell was the lone vote against the measure, saying she was following the wishes of many constituents to whom she had spoken in her 2nd Council District. [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Eviction Protection; Prostitution Clampdown; Trump’s Court Battles; Israel’s Independence Day Read More »

Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, USA

The Jewish Eye: S.D. Civic Improvements; Carlson Aftermath; Reich’s ‘Treason’ Argument

Entertainment attorney Bryan Freedman has been separately retained by cable news hosts Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon, who on Monday were both dismissed from their respective positions at Fox News and Cable News Network.  Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, welcomed Carlson’s departure saying in Tweet: “It’s about time.  For far too long, Tucker Carlson has used his primetime show to spew antisemitic racist, xenophobic & anti-LGBTQ hate to millions.” Meanwhile Ken Stone of Times of San Diego has reported that San Diego-based One America News’s CEO and Founder Robert Herring Sr. said, “It would be great if we could get Tucker! I might give him around $25 million. And he would be well worth that!”  U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) tweeted: “Now that fox has fired Carlson, who blundered by speaking off-camera truth about lies Fox told on air, will Fox recant Trump’s Big Lie, Carlson’s ‘Patriot Purge’ Jan. 6 false-flag disinformation & the toxic Great Replacement Theory? Or was he just fired for saying he hated Trump?” [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: S.D. Civic Improvements; Carlson Aftermath; Reich’s ‘Treason’ Argument Read More »

California, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

The Jewish Eye: Television, Financial News, Politics, U.S-Israel Relations

Abby Grossberg was fired by Fox News from her job as head of booking for Tucker Carlson after filing two lawsuits in New York federal court against Fox, one accusing Carlson of creating a hostile workplace with frequent sexist and antisemitic jokes.  With news of Carlson “parting ways” with Fox on Monday as an on-air personality, Grossberg’s attorney Tanvir Rahman commented that Carlson’s departure is “in part, an admission of the systemic lying, bullying and conspiracy mongering claimed by our client.” The attorney also said she planned to take Carlson’s deposition soon. The Los Angeles Times reported that Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch personally made the decision to fire Carlson, motivated in part by Grossberg’s suit. Carlson grew up in La Jolla, the son of television personality and unsuccessful mayoral candidate Dick Carlson. [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Television, Financial News, Politics, U.S-Israel Relations Read More »

Donald H. Harrison

Tips for Living a Longer and Exciting Life

Authors David Cravit and Larry Wolf differentiate between “Default Aging” and “Super Aging.”  The former style of aging is passive: You retire, take some vacations, become increasingly passive and irrelevant, fade into obscurity, and then die.  It is what “retirement” has meant for too long a time, according to the authors.  On the other hand, “super aging” involves taking charge of your life after the so-called retirement age; finding a purpose, keeping well informed about health and fitness, being mentally active, and not letting anyone else define you by your age. [Donald H. Harrison]

Tips for Living a Longer and Exciting Life Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles

The Jewish Eye: Holocaust Presentations; Ethics and Animals, Artificial Intelligence; Israel’s 75th Anniversary

Holocaust Survivor Joseph Alexander, 100, will tell of his experiences at Chabad of Poway at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 27, exactly four years after a gunman murdered Lori Gilbert Kaye and wounded four other people. Reservations are required via chabadpoway.com.   On May 4, Cheryl Rattner Price, executive director of The Butterfly Project, and Sandra Scheller, curator of the RUTH: Remember Us the Holocaust, will be among speakers at a 1:30 p.m. presentation on the Holocaust at Southwestern College in Chula Vista.  Lee Ann Kim, former KGTV-10 reporter and founder of the Pacific Arts Movement, will emcee the event, which also will include a performance by singer Elizabeth Schwartz. [Donald H. Harrison]

The Jewish Eye: Holocaust Presentations; Ethics and Animals, Artificial Intelligence; Israel’s 75th Anniversary Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Polish Jewish Yiddishist Seeks Revival of Eastern European Jewish Culture

Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh in late 2021 acted upon an idea that had been incubating almost since she arrived here. She rented a 600-squae-foot storefront at 1128 Wall Street in La Jolla and named her enterprise “Yiddishland.”  She intends it to be an incubator for the baby that she hopes will grow into a “mini-shtetl,” hopefully in La Jolla, with a small hotel, museum, classes, and possibly costumed docents who will introduce visitors to the resurging Yiddish world of Europe that was almost snuffed out by the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]

Polish Jewish Yiddishist Seeks Revival of Eastern European Jewish Culture Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Travel and Food