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.

Contest Will Provide Input for Jewish Movie’s Sequel

The movie explores the concepts of “freedom to” and “freedom from;” Passover customs; unplugging on Shabbat; why Orthodox Jewish men refrain from touching women who are not part of their families; Torah attitudes towards homosexuality; why Orthodox women cover their hair; and sexual practices within an Orthodox Jewish marriage. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Artists’ and Artisans’ Show Lures Her to a Synagogue

This past Sunday, Tifereth Israel Synagogue hosted its First Annual Artists’ Showcase. Many talented artists came out to proudly display their creations which ranged from art, books, music, photography, woodworking, other crafts and Israeli stamp collecting. The event was jointly sponsored by the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Men’s Club and Sisterhood. [Mimi Pollack]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Israel, Jewish Religion, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA

Elementary Jewish Yoga in Colorful Primer

Author Blanca Sissa, a certified yoga instructor for children, says sometimes the thoughts in their heads resemble little monkeys jumping from tree to tree, never stopping anywhere in particular.  Mindfulness, otherwise known as focusing thoughts on the here and now, is a remedy.  In Hebrew mindfulness is called Yishuv Hada’at. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Brian Grana Tells of His Great Loves: His Late Wife, His Children, and the United States Marine Corps

One of the units with the I-MEF is the Marine Logistics Group (MLG), which then-Major Brian T. Grana was a member of from 2006 to 2009. Later in his career, as a lieutenant colonel, Grana commanded a Squadron at MCAS Miramar. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Irv Elson: Retired Navy Chaplain Advocates for Jewish Service Personnel as Jewish Welfare Board’s Director

Not far inside the main entrance of the 125,000-acre Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the Camp Del Mar headquarters for the storied I Marine Expeditionary Force. There, from 2012 through 2014, Navy Capt. Irv Elson worked as a Force Chaplain on the way to his ultimate assignment in uniform as the Deputy Chaplain of the Marine Corps, the first Jew to achieve that rank. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

JNF-USA Helping to Rebuild San Diego’s Sister City in Israel, Sha’ar Hanegev

Approximately 30,000 evacuees from San Diego’s sister city of Sha’ar Hanegev and the neighboring municipality of Eshkol, both within a close distance of Israel’s border with Gaza, are returning to their homes, where they will find that volunteers from Jewish National Fund-USA have rebuilt, refurbished, and repainted some of the structures that were damaged or destroyed during the Oct. 7 Hamas-led massacre.  New facilities are also being planned. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sol Lizerbram, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Larry Kornit: Cantor in Shul, Social Justice Advocate Outside

Four areas of interest have shaped the life of Cantor Larry Kornit of Congregation Beth Tikvah: Religion, music, politics, and sports. In addition to serving as a spiritual leader of what he described as his Conservative/ Reform/ Eclectic congregation, he also has volunteered as a member of the City of Oceanside’s nine-member Housing Commission.  The commission meets in the City Council chambers the fourth Tuesday of each month. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Chelmites, as Usual, are Foolish, But in This Tale, Their Children are Smarter

Stories of the “wise people of Chelm” abound in Jewish literature.  Chelmites always jump to the wrong conclusions and their attempts to solve perceived problems often compete in silliness. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Anecdotes from an Unthoughtful Life

He had become an expert on the use of a Louma crane, which can twist and turn its long arm and get shots from angles otherwise unavailable to movie producers. Steven Spielberg utilized the Louma in the movie 1941, but as production was coming to an end, Spielberg learned that Romanoff was nicknamed “Captain Gas” because he liked to party with nitrous oxide.  After a night of excess with similarly inclined crew and cast members, a wasted Romanoff nursed a hangover inside the Louma control booth. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Berkeley Professor Sleeps, Teaches in His Office to Demonstrate for Campus Safety

“My office will be open at all hours of the day and night, on weekdays, and weekends, to all students who do not feel safe or who have been subjected to antisemitic abuse, or who wish to chat. I will also leave a light on in my office window at all times so that all students walking by on Bancroft Ave. can see that at least one faculty members is sleeping as badly at night as they are.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Baskin Robbins Fun: A New Flavor and a Pun

Graphic artists found out that by coloring the curved part of the B, in the initials BR, and the straight line of the R, they would have a bright number 31 within the initials – 31 being Baskin Robbins’ initial concept of having a separate flavor for every day of the month. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA