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.

Coalition Calls on Gov. Newsom to Sign ‘Stop Hate Littering Act’

Elected officials and Jewish communal leaders on Monday, Sept. 9, asked San Diegans to write to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and urge him to sign Assembly Bill 3024, the Stop Hate Littering Act which had its genesis here in San Diego. [Donald H. Harrison]

Coalition Calls on Gov. Newsom to Sign ‘Stop Hate Littering Act’ Read More »

Antisemitism, California, Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Holocaust, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Report: IDF Now Avoiding Maneuvers in Gaza Areas Where Hostages Being Held

That assessment was made by Jonathan Conricus, former spokesman for the IDF in a webcast interview Sunday with Michael Dickson, the StandWithUs director, who spoke with him from Jerusalem. [Donald H. Harrison]

Report: IDF Now Avoiding Maneuvers in Gaza Areas Where Hostages Being Held Read More »

Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Dershowitz Biography Skims Over Some Famous Cases, Concentrates on Trump, Epstein

Dershowitz was involved as a defense and appeals court attorney in so many memorable cases – those that filled our newspapers and nightly television news – that in attempting to enumerate them all, biographer Schmidt could devote only a few pages to any one of them.  This resulted in the biography providing broad coverage of Dershowitz’s life and career but with only limited depth. [Donald H. Harrison]

Dershowitz Biography Skims Over Some Famous Cases, Concentrates on Trump, Epstein Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Hanukkah Book is a Tribute to a Child’s Imagination

This book is an ode to a child’s imagination. On each of the first seven nights of Hanukkah, a young girl gets a present from her parents. She imagines them to be a dragon that she names Nerry; a rainbow; a treasure chest filled with gold coins and rubies; a merry-go-round, a time-travel machine; rocket boots, and three unicorns. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food

6 Slain Israeli Hostages Memorialized by United San Diego Jewish Community

Songs, psalms, poetry, and prayers recited by clergy and lay leaders of San Diego’s Jewish community were woven through a memorial service on Monday evening, Sept. 2, for six hostages brutally executed by Hamas as they waited defenselessly in tunnels under Rafah, Gaza, for their rescue by the Israel Defense Force. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Children’s Tennis Story Tells of Gibson and Buxton Overcoming Discrimination

So well did they get along that they decided to become doubles partners in the competition that became the French Open. They ignored boos and rude comments from bigots in the stands as they made their way to the court together. They prevailed all the way to a championship game, at which they lost the first set. [Donald H. Harrison]

Children’s Tennis Story Tells of Gibson and Buxton Overcoming Discrimination Read More »

Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Klop, Klop! Wake Up; It’s Time for Morning Prayers’

In Eastern Europe before alarm clocks were generally available, a Jewish person known as a “klopper” was appointed to knock on doors early in the morning to help assure people would get to morning prayers on time. [Donald H. Harrison]

‘Klop, Klop! Wake Up; It’s Time for Morning Prayers’ Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Children’s Book Describes Shock and Mourning over Lincoln’s Assassination

The narrative moves to the assassination of President Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre on a Friday night – the same time that many observant Jewish families were at their Shabbat dinners. When Rebecca’s mother lights candles, they unexpectedly flicker – symbolizing the spiritual blow to the nation. [Donald H. Harrison]

Children’s Book Describes Shock and Mourning over Lincoln’s Assassination Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Ethnically Jewish Author Explains His Atheism

Eventually, he imagined people sitting in a gigantic house with an infinite set of windows. Each person’s view of the world was influenced by the location of his or her window.  They could see what was in front of them, but not what was in front of the other residents.  Each person’s beliefs are determined by what happens outside their individual windows. [Donald H. Harrison]

Ethnically Jewish Author Explains His Atheism Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Israeli President and Viral Video Creator to Share Webinar on Sunday, Aug. 25

“We basically have been dehumanized,” Eitan Chitayat said in a Zoom interview from Tel Aviv. “We have been boiled down to apartheid lovers, to colonialists, to genocide enablers, and this has to stop.  The only way it will stop is if one person at a time in the private sector, in our own individual lives, start saying ‘We’re Jewish,’ or ‘I’m Jewish!’  Let’s start there.” [Donald H. Harrison]

Israeli President and Viral Video Creator to Share Webinar on Sunday, Aug. 25 Read More »

Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Dreaming a Child’s Fears Away in Book for K-3 Readers

This book for kindergarteners through 3rd graders is intended to help children overcome their fears. In this case Tali, who wears a hamsa necklace to ward off evil, is afraid to join other children on playground equipment. She’s especially fearful of joining her peers at a martial arts class.  The reason?  She’s afraid that she will fall and break to pieces. [Donald H. Harrison]

Dreaming a Child’s Fears Away in Book for K-3 Readers Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

Memoir Tells of Russian Immigrant’s Social Climb in New York City

Memoirs are typically written by famous people or by those who survived extraordinary events.  Politicians, movie stars, artists, and diplomats are in the first category.  Soldiers and Holocaust Survivors are in the second.  But who is Anya Gillinson?  How many people outside of New York City have ever heard her name?  What impelled her to write her memoir? [Donald H. Harrison]

Memoir Tells of Russian Immigrant’s Social Climb in New York City Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Memorial Mixes with Celebration at Jerusalem-San Diego Zoos’ Fete

Like a Jewish wedding, at which celebration is mixed with sad remembrance of the destruction of the Temple (as symbolized by the breaking of a glass under the groom’s foot), so too was this year’s annual luncheon on Wednesday, August 7, celebrating cooperation between the Jerusalem Zoo and the San Diego Zoo tinged with sadness. [Donald H. Harrison]

Memorial Mixes with Celebration at Jerusalem-San Diego Zoos’ Fete Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA