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.
Amid the glitzy lifestyle that author Susannah Marren described so well in her previous novel, A Palm Beach Wife, the Cutler family sisters, Elodie and Aubrey, face a real-life crisis that will challenge all their conceptions in their label-conscious bubble world. [Donald H. Harrison]
Should a woman carry her sister’s child? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
You might get the idea from the title of this book that it is about a BBYO Group enjoying a favorite ride at Disneyland. However, it is far more serious than that. It tells about the war Jewish refugees waged against Portugal and Spain and their Grand Inquisitors. It also offers a hint concerning the dispute between Spain and Portugal over the true nationality of 16th century explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish pirates took revenge on Inquisition’s nations Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, USAOn a day that the world mourns the 2001 terror attack that felled the World Trade Center in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and took the lives of passengers aboard four hijacked airliners, there was some hopeful news as well. Peace in the Middle East is becoming contagious. Encouraged by the United States government, Bahrain and Israel have announced that they — like Israel and the United Arab Emirates previously — will sign a peace pact. [Donald H. Harrison]
Israel-Bahrain peacemaking draws applause Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food
StandWithUs on Wednesday evening presented a packed webcast, nearly an hour long, demonstrating the diversity of people who support Israel and the urgency that support has for Jewish and pro-Israel students attending high schools, colleges, and universities in North America and around the world. [Donald H. Harrison]
SWU webcast illustrates diverse support for Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAJewish seniors isolated during the coronavirus pandemic may be better off both physically and mentally by moving to the Independent Living section of Seacrest Village Retirement Communities, its president and CEO Pam Ferris says. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County column]
Seacrest Village may be answer for isolated Jewish seniors Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USAEditor’s Note: In this fictional piece, Esther and Noa, representing the San Diego-based Rabinove Foundation, go on a cruise around the South Pacific Island of Niue. In the previous segment, their guide Matafetu told them about the northern part of the island, occupied by the Motu people. In this part, he guides them around the southern part, the land of the Tafiti people. [Donald H. Harrison]
Fiction: Jewish perspectives on Niue, Part 2 Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Jewish Religion, Travel and Food
Boarding a comfortable but fast boat that would circumnavigate the South Pacific island of Niue, Noa and Esther were pleased with their earlier meeting with the country’s premier, who had promised his government’s cooperation as they explored the possibility of installing a desalination plant on the island. However, he warned them that due to the atoll’s geography, rising as it did straight up from the Pacific Ocean, there were very few spaces for beaches or natural harbors. So, he said, finding a suitable location for a desalination plant might be very difficult indeed. [Donald H. Harrison]
Fiction: Jewish perspectives on Niue Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Fiction, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USAWith less than two months to go until election, Democratic candidates in technically non-partisan local races are touting endorsements from big-name Democrats. For example, Assemblyman Todd Gloria, who is running for mayor of San Diego against City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, is sending out a short video showing U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for vice president, endorsing him. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]
San Diego races attract big-name endorsers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Readers' Stories, USA
With ethnic studies being required in K-12 public school and at the California State University, I recently picked up a book published by my friends at Sunbelt Publishing in El Cajon to engage in some welcome learning about another ethnicity. The Other Side: Journeys in Baja California by Judy Goldstein Botello, which I chose from Sunbelt’s warehouse at 1250 Fayette Street was not newly issued, but it was on topic and quite readable. [Donald H. Harrison]
Exploring ‘The Other Side’: Journeys in Baja California Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, San Diego County, Travel and FoodThe Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF) is recruiting San Diego County Jewish high school students to learn about philanthropy, tikkun olam, and tzedakah. Under auspices of the Jewish Community Foundation, “teens will learn grant making, collaboration, public speaking, and constructive discourse skills while building their own personal networks,” according to a JTF news release. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”
Jewish Teen Foundation invites high schoolers to apply Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
In my continuing quest to learn the stories of other peoples – in what you might call independent ethnic studies for a Jewish septuagenarian—I picked up Reclaiming Our Stories 2 and was intrigued by one of the fellows pictured on the cover. He was wearing a shirt with the slogan, “Peace for Palestine.” I wondered what kind of peace he had in mind. [Donald H. Harrison]
Anthology personalizes racism, oppression, loss Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County
Cindy Bloch and Jean Gaylis will co-chair a Feb. 21 virtual “Hearts of Gold” gala honoring the front line workers “who are ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the residents of Seacrest Village, while providing love and compassion during these challenging times,” according to Anna L. Johnston, events manager of the Seacrest Foundation. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]
‘Hearts of Gold’ gala to honor Seacrest’s workers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Lifestyles, San Diego County, USAThe State Legislature on Monday gave final approval to a bill requiring that ethnic studies be made a requirement for graduation from California high school. Members of the Legislative Jewish Caucus sent out a news release seeking to allay fears expressed in the Jewish community that the content of those courses might include anti-Israel or anti-Semitic material. [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Legislative Caucus amends Ethnic Studies bill Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Today, television news reported that there were three more deaths in San Diego County from COVID-19, and that all three victims were in their 80s “with underlying conditions.”
This phrase, “with underlying conditions,” apparently is meant to make some people feel better about the death toll. It sends the message that if you are young and healthy, without any underlying conditions, you’re safe from the disease. But it sends a different message to those of us who are older and have thus far survived our battles with “underlying conditions.” It tells us that if we die from COVID-19, it won’t be so important; it’s less of a tragedy. After all, we had underlying conditions. [Donald H. Harrison]
On behalf of those ‘with underlying conditions’ Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, USA