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.

Seeing What Author Tom Lamont Imagines in ‘Going Home’

The plot of this delightfully written, dreamlike narrative revolves around Joel, a preschooler whose mother Lea committed suicide after asking Teo, a male friend who admired her from afar, to look after him.  The life of Teo’s elderly father, Vic, apparently is resuscitated after Joel enters their lives. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

Well-Researched Historical Fiction Tells Tragic Holocaust Family Story

This is a carefully compiled record of the situation of German Jews between 1907 and 1942, the last year being when the author’s father, Benno Neuberger, was executed for treason on September 18 in Berlin, and his mother, Anna Neuberger, was murdered on September 19 by the Nazi death machine at Treblinka. [Donald H. Harrisons]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Could There Have Been Two Columbuses? One Italian and One Jewish?

Last year, forensic expert Miguel Lorente said a test of the bones on view at Seville Cathedral indicated that Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe. But what of another cache of bones also said to be those of the controversial 15th century explorer that are kept in a mausoleum at the Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic?  [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Children’s Book Teaches Kindness to Animals in an Exotic Jewish Locale

The story, intended for children between the ages of 4 and 9, teaches several lessons.  Author Kierzenblat’s main message reinforces the ethical concept of being kind to animals.  Another is the fact that Jews lived throughout the Diaspora, incorporating into their daily lives the customs of the people around them. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share

Rabbi Ilene Schneider Writes Murder Mystery Novels

Three previously published novels with punny titles all are set around Jewish holidays. Their protagonist is Rabbi Aviva Cohen, who in some respects resembles the author: the fictional Cohen is “a woman rabbi from south New Jersey, and she is short, chubby with unruly curly red hair,” Schneider said. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Fiction, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Rabbi Leads Chanukah ‘Candle Lighting’ aboard Azamara’s Onward

A life-long learner, Ham radio operator, ardent Zionist, Reconstructionist rabbi whose wife Ilene Schneider also is a Reconstructionist rabbi, Gans welcomed between 40 and 50 people to candle lighting ceremonies on the first night of Chanukah on Wednesday, Dec. 25, in the Cabaret Lounge, the ship’s main showroom.  Azamara’s Onward had just completed a Christmas Day transit through the Panama Canal. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Rabbi Whose Family Were Conversos Now Heads a Colombian Sephardic Congregation

On a recent visit to this port city, I was among a group of four Jews who were escorted by a guide to a five-month-old Sephardic congregation (Sinagoga Sefardi) established by Rabbi Joachim Montoya, a medical doctor who had converted to Judaism after learning that he was descended from a family of Conversos. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Young, Committed Jews Offer Their Thoughts on the Future of Our People

ollege students and youth in their 20’s contributed 31 essays to this anthology.  Some essays are descriptive like that of Stanford University student Julia Steinberg’s “Home, Transcendence, and the Land,” in which she describes the feelings of belonging and of being home on her first visit to Israel. Others were proscriptive such as Ashira Boxman’s “To Stand United, We Must Respect Our Different Paths,” and Kivi Franks’ “Stop Overfocusing on Antisemitism.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Billings, Montana, Set an Example of Brotherly Love after a Rock was Hurled through a Little Jewish Boy’s Window

When the police chief came to investigate, he concluded that it was done by the same group of neo-Nazis who had been harassing African Americans. Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and gays and lesbians. Previously, a swastika signboard had been nailed to the Beth Aaron Synagogue, and Jewish tombstones had been pushed over in the cemetery. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Murder Mystery Secondary to a Fine Portrait of Skid Row

This murder mystery takes place on Chicago’s run down southside, circa 1966. But two murders don’t start the novel, they occur very close to the end. The story begins with a young, idealistic Jewish dentist starting a practice on Skid Row and becoming acclimated to the drunkards and junkies who inhabit the neighborhood. [Donald H. Harrison]

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

‘The ABC’s of the World’s Religions’ Shows Their Similarities

With the author having grown up in western Christianity and the illustrator having experienced eastern religions, their collaboration, written in couplets on left-facing pages and with explanatory information on right-facing pages, uses the alphabet as a teaching vehicle. [Donald H. Harrison]

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