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.

Lebanese memories prompted by Beirut explosion

George Salameh, owner of the Alforon Restaurant on El Cajon Boulevard near 59th Street, remembers living within the area near the port of  Beirut that was leveled by the terrible blast on August 4  that killed at least 177 people and wounded or injured 6,000 more, leaving as many as 150,000 people homeless, and causing property damage estimated between $10 billion and $15 billion. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]

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

San Diego Jewish World endorses Sara Jacobs for Congress

With only nuance separating them on Middle East issues, and practically no discernible differences on domestic issues, I’ve been watching the tenor of their two campaigns to help me in my deliberations. There, I have to say, Sara Jacobs has been far more positive in her approach to the voters than Georgette Gomez. [Donald H. Harrison]

San Diego Jewish World endorses Sara Jacobs for Congress Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Some of the websites I like to read

In today’s column, I would like to share with you current editions of websites that I routinely visit as I familiarize myself with Jewish news from around the world.  If you have the time and inclination, I’m certain that the hard-working staffs who publish these websites would very much welcome your readership and support, as, of course, do I. [Donald H. Harrison]

Some of the websites I like to read Read More »

Chris Jennewein, Donald H. Harrison, Joe Gandelman, Ken Stone, Michael Ordman, Miriam Raftery

Israel, UAE sign peace accord, Trump announces

Via Twitter, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, Aug. 13, that a third Arab country, the United Arab Emirates, has agreed to a formal peace with Israel, following the lead of Egypt and Jordan, which respectively normalized relations with Israel in 1979 and 1994. Trump’s Tweet included a joint statement with Trump from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates. [Donald H. Harrison]

Israel, UAE sign peace accord, Trump announces Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USA

Jews cheer, jeer Kamala Harris as Biden’s VP nominee

Back in June 2016, when California’s then Attorney General Kamala Harris was successfully campaigning for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate to succeed the retiring Barbara Boxer, I asked her at the United Domestic Workers Union Hall in San Diego about the ongoing Israel-Palestinian dispute. [Donald H. Harrison]

Jews cheer, jeer Kamala Harris as Biden’s VP nominee Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Hillel announces initiative to combat antisemitism

Last week, we carried the news that Rose Ritch stepped down from her position as student body vice president at the University of Southern California because of the harassment she had to endure for being a supporter of Israel.  On Monday, Hillel International announced a new initiative to train campus administrators on how to recognize and deal with antisemitism. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

Hillel announces initiative to combat antisemitism Read More »

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

Leichtag Foundation urges Beirut relief donations

The Encinitas, California-based Leichtag Foundation expressed shock and sadness over the Aug. 4 explosion that destroyed most of the port of Beirut, Lebanon, killing more than 150 people and leaving thousands homeless. “Responding hospitals, already stretched thin due to COVID-19 are now at overcapacity,” reported Charlene Seidle and Sharyn Goodson, respectively the Foundation’s executive vice president and vice president for philanthropy and organizational development. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Ken Stone, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Stephen D. Bryen

A modern African-Israeli tale set in Tel Aviv

Oscar Orleans is a university-educated refugee from the Congo, who made his way to Israel, and in this mystery novel serves as a consultant to the Tel Aviv police department in cases involving other Black Africans, regardless of from which  part of the sub-Saharan continent they came.  (Donald H. Harrison)

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

It’s tough being a Zionist on many campuses

I wonder if I would have survived in college back in the 1960s if the animus on campus toward Jews and Israel were as great as it is today. Two examples of the kind of hatred and bigotry that Jewish students face can be found at the University of Southern California, up in Los Angeles, and across the country at Florida State University in Tallahassee. [Donald H. Harrison]

It’s tough being a Zionist on many campuses Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, USA