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.
He identified Amon Göth, the commandant of Plaszow, whose brutality was graphically depicted in the movie Schindler’s List. Göth used to shoot inmates for target practice from a vantage point overlooking the concentration camp. Touring the camp, Göth would abruptly murder inmates on a whim. He reveled in making Jews quake. [Donald H. Harrison]
The title of this book, referencing “tortoise” and “hair,” immediately brings to mind Aesop’s Fable about the race between the tortoise and the hare in which the slow and steady tortoise defeats the brilliantly fast but overly distracted hare. [Donald H. Harrison]
Novel Depicts a Man’s Metamorphosis from a Hare to a Tortoise Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors
In 1966, a fire that started on a top floor of the 10-story Jewish Theological Seminary building in New York City destroyed 70,000 books and other written items. Many were extra copies of the books stored below; others were irreplaceable items such as the Torah scrolls sent for safekeeping from Danzig during the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison]
The plot of this delightfully written, dreamlike narrative revolves around Joel, a preschooler whose mother Lea committed suicide after asking Teo, a male friend who admired her from afar, to look after him. The life of Teo’s elderly father, Vic, apparently is resuscitated after Joel enters their lives. [Donald H. Harrison]
Seeing What Author Tom Lamont Imagines in ‘Going Home’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors
This is a carefully compiled record of the situation of German Jews between 1907 and 1942, the last year being when the author’s father, Benno Neuberger, was executed for treason on September 18 in Berlin, and his mother, Anna Neuberger, was murdered on September 19 by the Nazi death machine at Treblinka. [Donald H. Harrisons]
Well-Researched Historical Fiction Tells Tragic Holocaust Family Story Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
This book written for children between the ages of 4 and 9 will have adults chuckling and children delighted. The collaboration between author Sutton and illustrator Chappell prompts readers to wonder who is babysitting whom. [Donald H. Harrison]
In Children’s Book, Is Zayde the Babysitter or Vice Versa? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Mia, having learned from Edie Rose, makes a list and goes around to an interreligious and interracial group of neighbors in the building, who immediately agree to contribute foods for a seder … [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s Tale Tells of a Kindness Being Reciprocated at Passover Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Last year, forensic expert Miguel Lorente said a test of the bones on view at Seville Cathedral indicated that Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe. But what of another cache of bones also said to be those of the controversial 15th century explorer that are kept in a mausoleum at the Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic? [Donald H. Harrison]
Could There Have Been Two Columbuses? One Italian and One Jewish? Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
The story, intended for children between the ages of 4 and 9, teaches several lessons. Author Kierzenblat’s main message reinforces the ethical concept of being kind to animals. Another is the fact that Jews lived throughout the Diaspora, incorporating into their daily lives the customs of the people around them. [Donald H. Harrison]
Children’s Book Teaches Kindness to Animals in an Exotic Jewish Locale Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share
Three previously published novels with punny titles all are set around Jewish holidays. Their protagonist is Rabbi Aviva Cohen, who in some respects resembles the author: the fictional Cohen is “a woman rabbi from south New Jersey, and she is short, chubby with unruly curly red hair,” Schneider said. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Ilene Schneider Writes Murder Mystery Novels Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
A life-long learner, Ham radio operator, ardent Zionist, Reconstructionist rabbi whose wife Ilene Schneider also is a Reconstructionist rabbi, Gans welcomed between 40 and 50 people to candle lighting ceremonies on the first night of Chanukah on Wednesday, Dec. 25, in the Cabaret Lounge, the ship’s main showroom. Azamara’s Onward had just completed a Christmas Day transit through the Panama Canal. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Leads Chanukah ‘Candle Lighting’ aboard Azamara’s Onward Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA
On a recent visit to this port city, I was among a group of four Jews who were escorted by a guide to a five-month-old Sephardic congregation (Sinagoga Sefardi) established by Rabbi Joachim Montoya, a medical doctor who had converted to Judaism after learning that he was descended from a family of Conversos. [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Whose Family Were Conversos Now Heads a Colombian Sephardic Congregation Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food
Author Topperman grew up in Canada, to which her parents had immigrated, after trying out Sweden. She is the product of a mixed Polish family; her mother’s side is Jewish; her father’s side is Catholic. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Polish-Canadian Returns to Her Parents’ Poland Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors
ollege students and youth in their 20’s contributed 31 essays to this anthology. Some essays are descriptive like that of Stanford University student Julia Steinberg’s “Home, Transcendence, and the Land,” in which she describes the feelings of belonging and of being home on her first visit to Israel. Others were proscriptive such as Ashira Boxman’s “To Stand United, We Must Respect Our Different Paths,” and Kivi Franks’ “Stop Overfocusing on Antisemitism.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Young, Committed Jews Offer Their Thoughts on the Future of Our People Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA