“AMCHA Initiative welcomes the recently published recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Jewish Life at USC and President Carol L. Folt’s commitment to implement these thoughtful recommendations….” {AMCHA Initiative news release]
Thumbs Up for USC’s Latest Move Against Antisemitism Read More »
California, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Project RUTH – “Remember Us: The Holocaust” – which was on exhibit for two years at the Chula Vista Public Library is in the process of closing, but even though it soon will be gone, creator and curator Sandy Scheller vowed Sunday, August 21, that its content won’t be forgotten. [Donald H. Harrison]
Curator Vows Holocaust Exhibit Will Find a Permanent Home Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, San Diego County
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced it has opened an investigation into a complaint alleging the University of Southern California (USC) allowed a hostile environment of antisemitism to proliferate on its campus, resulting in the resignation in August 2020 of its Jewish student government vice
Federal Probe Opened Into Alleged Antisemitism at University of Southern California Read More »
California, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
A member of the Jewish community, known for his self-deprecating sense of humor, Kolender grew up at the Reform Congregation Beth Israel. However, when it was time for his bar mitzvah, he honored his grandfather’s wishes and had it at Beth Jacob Congregation, which is Orthodox. “The rabbi there was Baruch Stern, and it was the first bar mitzvah for him after the war,” Kolender told me back in 1996 when I profiled him for the now defunct San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage. Rabbi Stern’s children “had been killed in front of him by the Nazis, and he started crying and I started crying, and I’m not sure if we ever did get through the whole thing. It was something I never will forget.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Kolender Was City’s First Jewish Police Chief, County’s First Jewish Sheriff Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
This chapter is a chance for me to step again from third-person history into first-person history because I was highly involved in the start-up in 1989 of Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego. It came about because through The Harrison Enterprises, the public relations agency which I owned, I served as the executive director of the San Diego Cruise Industry Consortium. The consortium was created in 1983 under the aegis of Acting Mayor Bill Cleator to attract cruise ships to the Port of San Diego. Previously, I had served as communications director for Cleator during the period he served as a city councilman and acting mayor. [Donald H. Harrison]
How a Sightseeing Company Got its Start in San Diego Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
Recognizing the need for valid and actionable data that serves the entire community, Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center – Jacobs Family Campus, and the Leichtag Foundation have come together to conduct a study of the San Diego and Temecula Jewish community. [Jewish Family Service]
Demographic Survey Planned for San Diego County Jewish Community Read More »
California, San Diego County
The Book of Life symbolizes promises from one generation to the next – – promises that ensure the long-term strength and vibrancy of our Jewish community. The Book itself is a treasured community archive and housed at the Jewish Community Foundation. [Press Release]
‘Book of Life’ Ceremony at Beth Am Aided Jewish Continuity Read More »
California, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA
Carly Gammill, founding Director of the StandWithUs Center for Combating Antisemitism, will address the Beth Israel Men’s Club via Zoom at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 20. [SDJW}
StandWithUs Expert on Antisemitism Addresses Beth Israel July 20 Read More »
California, San Diego County, USA
Members of the Jewish community who have served on the Port Commission since its creation in 1962 were Harvey Furgatch (appointed 1969), Milton “Mickey” Fredman (1970), Ben Cohen (1977) and Louis Wolfsheimer (1979), all of whom had passed away prior to my undertaking this book, and Robert Penner (1988), Lynn Schenk (1990), Stephen Cushman (1998) and Laurie Black (2007), all of whom I had the opportunity to interview. All these Jewish Port Commissioners represented the City of San Diego, except for Penner and Cohen, who were appointed by Chula Vista and Coronado respectively. [Donald H. Harrison]
Four Jews Who Served as Port Commissioners Tell of Their Tenures Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) has appointed Justin Pressman as Executive Director of its Western Region, which encompasses Southern California and the Southwestern states. In his new position, Pressman will develop regional strategic campaign plans, as well as implement and evaluate major giving campaigns in support of the
If he were so inclined, Greg Smith could have a lot to brag about. Over a period of 25 years, he won seven elections to serve as the San Diego County Assessor as well as the county’s recorder and clerk. He headed a staff of between 400 and 500 county workers in the combined operations of assessor-recorder-clerk. [Donald H. Harrison]
Greg Smith: A Quarter Century as Assessor, Recorder, Clerk Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, Travel and Food
It is therefore incumbent upon us to make the most of the opportunities we have now to tap into those remarkable people—and draw as much insight, wisdom, and perspective from them as we can, clear in the knowledge that it will fall to us, soon enough, to be the bearers of those stories and insights for the generations that follow. [Doron Krakow]
Appreciating Jewish Leaders and Holocaust Survivors Read More »
California, Doron Krakow, Jewish History, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA
The San Diego real estate scene has yet again taken residents by surprise. In January 2020, the median sale price was $600,000. A year later in January 2021, that rose to $650,000. In January 2022, the price rose yet again to just under $800,000 and leveled out just under $900,000 in April 2022. Going into Summer 2022, prices have started to plateau and even drop. [Teresa Konopka]
Biblical Insights into San Diego’s Housing Market Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Teresa_Konopka, USA
Garrett did a small set and was the MC. He mostly riffed on the audience, and after “bageling” himself as a tall Jew did a fair amount of ethnic humor. Ethnic humor generally makes me a little nervous because I don’t know how people will take it. Until I see if they’re ok with it, I’m not sure how to react. He handled it well though, equally picking on everyone so no one group was singled out for offense. The audience responded well and by their laughter seemed to enjoy it. [Donald H. Harrison]
Brad Garrett and Friends Delight in Bellflower Read More »
California, Sandi Masori, Trivia, Humor & Satire