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.

Who will mind the constituents of Gonzalez and Fletcher?

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher’s ambition to become California’s next Secretary of State, already announced even though the next scheduled election is not until 2022, may adversely impact not one, but two constituencies, unless she and her husband, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, make careful preparations to avoid such consequences. [Donald H. Harrison]

Who will mind the constituents of Gonzalez and Fletcher? Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

Rhinerson Touts SDCCD’s Entrepreneurship Program

Rhinerson, who has a long background in public relations and governmental advocacy (lobbying),  also is a board member of the national Association of Community College Trustees, a networking and lobbying group that trades ideas among members and with legislators.  But Rhinerson’s reach even goes beyond that.  While most San Diegans will be asleep at 1:30 a.m. PST Saturday, Dec. 19, he will be on a Zoom Conference call addressing an international conference sponsored by Amity University in Uttar Pradesh, India, on entrepreneurial opportunities and challenges in literature and communication. [Donald H. Harrison]

Rhinerson Touts SDCCD’s Entrepreneurship Program Read More »

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

Editor’s surgery postponed; SDJW will continue publication

As previously reported, I had been scheduled for brain surgery on Dec. 18, but on the recommendation of an anesthesiologist at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Diego, the surgery will be delayed for four to six weeks.  The anesthesiologist was troubled by an X-Ray showing a spot on my lower lung that suggested the possibility of pneumonia. My neurosurgeon informed me today any problem in the lungs can cause serious difficulties during an estimated six-hour surgery in which it’s necessary to insert a  breathing tube will be inserted. [Donald H. Harrison]

Editor’s surgery postponed; SDJW will continue publication Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jen Campbell solidifies her City Council control

City Council President Dr. Jennifer Campbell solidified her control over City Council business by appointing herself and the four councilmembers who supported her for president against Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe to key committee positions. The five councilmembers who voted for her now are the exact same membership of the Rules Committee, which according to the City of San Diego’s website, has responsibility for the “charter, permanent rules of council, open government, elections and ballot measures, annexations, boards and commissions, council initiated matters, communications, customer service and public outreach.” Besides Campbell, who will chair the committee, other members include Raul Campillo, Stephen Whitburn, Marni von Wilpert, and Chris Cate. [Donald H. Harrison]

Jen Campbell solidifies her City Council control Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Florida Celebrates Israel on a License Plate

Only yesterday I published a column about the joy of collecting photos of automobile license plates.  Today, to my pleasant surprise, I received a notice that the State of Florida has issued a specialty plate with the legend “Florida Stands With Israel.”   A sample of the plate may be seen above. [Donald H. Harrison]

Florida Celebrates Israel on a License Plate Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA

Learning About America Through License Plates

In the place of stamp collecting, as an adult, I have taken up the hobby of collecting pictures of license plates from throughout the United States and even from other countries.  For Chanukah, I can send them as email attachments to friends who similarly enjoy the hobby, and vice versa.  There are many ways to collect license plate pictures; by state, of course; or by special topics, like breast cancer awareness; honoring veterans and first responders; calls for environmental awareness; and the list goes on. [Donald H. Harrison]

Learning About America Through License Plates Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Travel and Food, USA

Humor, poignancy mark StandWithUs Zoomathon

It had the serious purpose and poignant moments while raising money for the defense of Jewish and pro-Zionist students who are bullied by anti-Semites and Israel-haters in public schools and on university campuses.  But the StandWithUs “Zoomathon,” also offered a refreshing mix of humor and music, perfect for celebrating a night of Chanukah while at home. [Donald H. Harrison]

Humor, poignancy mark StandWithUs Zoomathon Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Montgomery Steppe Supporters Alienated Potential Allies

If the Trump-led Republican party should somehow implode, don’t worry, there still would be a contentious two-party system in the United States.  Democrats, as is their habit, would immediately fall upon each other and quickly divide into two categories: moderates and “progressives.” Yes, I put the word “progressive” in quotation marks, because there is nothing progressive about threatening or bullying office holders who might disagree with you.  It’s downright regressive. [Donald H. Harrison]

Montgomery Steppe Supporters Alienated Potential Allies Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

Marathon Council Meeting Elects Campbell as President

One Jewish San Diego City Councilmember departed, a second Jewish Councilmember arrived, and a third, in the middle of her term, was elected as the Council’s new president during a marathon meeting on Thursday, Dec. 10th, after the 73rd City Council of the City of San Diego was sworn in along with the city’s new Democratic mayor, Todd Gloria, and the  reelected City Attorney, Mara Elliott. The new Council President in Jennifer Campbell, who defeated Monica Montgomery Steppe by a 5-4 vote notwithstanding an outpouring of support for Montgomery Steppe during the public comment portion of the meeting. The departing Jewish Councilmember was Barbara Bry, who was succeeded as the representative of the First District by Joe LaCava, who was administered the oath of office by his wife Lorraine. The arriving City Councilmember was Sean Elo-Rivera, who was sworn in as the representative of the Ninth District by his wife Angela Rivera. He succeeded City Councilwoman Georgette Gomez, who is also the immediate past President of the City Council. [Donald H. Harrison]

Marathon Council Meeting Elects Campbell as President Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

Pharmacist Explains How Drugs Can Mitigate Mental Illness

Dishman covers ADHD, depression, personality disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, anxiety, PTSD and insomnia. He goes into detail in each of these, including the variety of medications available for anyone suffering with one of these mental illnesses, or as he calls them, “Diversity of Personality.” [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

Pharmacist Explains How Drugs Can Mitigate Mental Illness Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & Education

Jen Campbell wins a short-term rental victory

Ahead of the December 10th meeting that will determine whether San Diego City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell or Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe will become the next City Council President, Campbell scored a victory at the City Planning Commission, winning unanimous approval for her compromise plan to cut by 50 percent the number of short-term rental units in the city and to charge a license fee for those that remain. [Donald H. Harrison]

Jen Campbell wins a short-term rental victory Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Authors Tell Stories of 15 Israelis’ Resilience

In “Isresilience,” we meet 15 Israelis who overcame difficult challenges in their lives and went on to praiseworthy accomplishments.  The sketches are of Israeli sabras and olim, men and women, young and old.  Through the entire narrative, authors Dickson, who is executive director of StandWithUs in Israel, and Baum, a PhD known for her studies of resilience, examine how these Israelis were able to overcome the obstacles that life put in their way.   They suggest that there are three important ingredients to resilience: empathy, flexibility, and meaning making, which might be better understood as a sense of purpose. [Donald H. Harrison]

Authors Tell Stories of 15 Israelis’ Resilience Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East

Editor’s Surgery to Prompt SDJW Hiatus Dec. 15-Jan. 4

This publication will go on a hiatus that will begin Tuesday, December 15, 2020 and will continue through Monday, January 4, 2021.  Although San Diego Jewish World will remain on line, with its extensive archives,  no new stories will be filed during this period.  Advertisers will not be charged during the hiatus, even though their ads will continue to run. This three-week pause was necessitated by the fact that I will be having surgery on December 15th to remove a small meningioma from the surface of my brain – an operation that is expected to require a few days recovery period in the hospital followed by recuperation at home. [Donald H. Harrison]

Editor’s Surgery to Prompt SDJW Hiatus Dec. 15-Jan. 4 Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

Thanksgiving Blessings and Tzedakah

I’m always fascinated at Thanksgiving time to see how rabbis express what is a central tenet of Judaism: giving thanks to the Almighty for the many blessings bestowed upon us.
For example, the Forward offered a prayer from the book, Talking to God: Personal Prayers for Times of Joy, Sadness, Struggle and Celebration  by Rabbi Naomi Levy of the Neshuva congregation in Los Angeles. The poem focuses on every day things—children’s laughter, our ability to breathe, having enough food to eat, living in adequate shelters, being clothed, being healthy, the special people in our lives, and residing in a country where people are free to practice their religion without fear. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA