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.
You may have been aware that a small group of neo-Nazis had called for a National Day of Hate on Saturday, Feb. 25, during which their fellow antisemites were urged to rally, disrupt, and document their odious conduct with photographs of their activities. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Saturday of Love, Not of Hate Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA
County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher plans to run in 2024 for the seat of state Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, the year she will be ineligible to run again because of term limits. Fletcher will be in the middle of his second term as a county supervisor at that time, so, depending on the outcome of the state Senate election, we may face a special election for his seat. [Donald H. Harrison]
B’Shalom: Special Elections Here and Elsewhere Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Opinion, San Diego County, USA
An Israeli-American of close acquaintance, upon hearing that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter had entered hospice, commented that he “never liked that guy, he was an antisemite.” He noted that Carter helped propagate the lie that Israel is an apartheid state, even though Arabs have entered the highest levels of government and industry alongside their Jewish neighbors in Israel. Nevertheless, as we look back over his career, I think that we should be more charitable toward Carter, not forgetting his invaluable contributions as a mediator at Camp David, bringing about the peace between Israel and Egypt. [Donald H. Harrison]
B’Shalom: Jimmy Carter, Rose Schindler, U.S. Senate Aspirants, Gregory Peck Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Israel, Jewish History, Opinion, USA
Hella Mauzer is a fictional former policewoman in Helsinki, who now works as a private investigator. She is asked by her old colleagues to do a background check on a man who is under consideration to head the homicide bureau. She agrees upon the condition that she might also review the records from 1942 in which members of her own family were killed by a hit and run truck driver. [Donald H. Harrison]
Two Mysteries for Price of One in ‘Trouble’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonCongratulations and Kol Hakovod to California’s senior U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, 89, who announced on Tuesday, Feb. 14, she will retire at the end of her term. She was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992 after having served as a county supervisor and mayor of the City/County of San Francisco. By the time of her scheduled retirement in January 2025, she will have served 32 fruitful years in the Upper House of Congress, a record for women legislators. [Donald H. Harrison]
Sunday Soundoff: Dianne Feinstein, Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Sports & Competitions, USAThe rowdy way that Republicans in the House Chamber greeted portions of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union message on Tuesday, Feb. 7, was a terrible example for our country, which yearns for bipartisanship and progress rather than division and rancor. [Donald H. Harrison]
Sunday Soundoff: State of the Union, Africa Relations, Antisemitism Forum Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Opinion, San Diego County, Sandi Masori, USA
Freedenthal says that most people who have suicidal thoughts are not in immediate danger of attempting to kill themselves. Most are giving serious consideration to the idea but have not gotten to the point where they want to actuate their thoughts. They are still debating with themselves, and that’s when a supportive friend, family member or partner can help them navigate toward making a life-saving choice. [Donald H. Harrison]
Responding to Loved Ones Who Are Thinking of Suicide Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education
Ronald Gruner, who spent his working career as a CEO of three different tech companies (Alliant Computer; Shareholder.com; and Sky.Analytics), is a lay historian deeply interested in economic policy and outcomes. His book, analyzing the presidencies of the 17 U.S. Presidents from Warren G. Harding to Donald J. Trump, focuses largely on issues like unemployment, interest rates, and inflation. But along the way he also makes mention of significant geopolitical events that occurred during those presidencies. I will leave it to economists to determine the value of Gruner’s economic analyses. They are beyond my depth. What I did take notice of was how often our fellow Jews, and issues of direct relevance to the Jewish community, cropped up in the book. [Donald H. Harrison]
Many Jews Receive Mentions in Brief History of 17 US Presidents Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, USACraven now has been “cancelled” by the unforgiving academic community. The irony of this is that were it not for Bill Craven, Cal State San Marcos would not have existed in the first place. He fought the uphill legislative battle to win approval for the construction of that campus. Opponents noted that San Diego County already had San Diego State University, whereas other parts of the state didn’t have even one state university campus, much less two, in addition to a campus of the University of California. [Donald H. Harrison]
Sunday Soundoff: Cancel Culture, Transit Equity, & Love vs. Hate Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Travel and Food, USA
The visit of First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to San Diego on Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4 highlighted three members of the American Jewish community: Sara Jacobs, Gabrielle Giffords, and Steven A. Cohen. [Donald H. Harrison]
3 Jews Had Roles in First Lady Jill Biden’s San Diego Visit Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, San Diego County, USAHouse Republicans did not do a favor for Israel nor the American Jewish community when they kicked Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, off the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Instead, they turned her into a political martyr, thereby magnifying her importance among progressives and potentially fueling antisemitism. [Donald H. Harrison]
OpEd: Ouster of Ilhan Omar Did Not Help Jewish Community Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Opinion, USA
Purim arrives this year the evening of Monday, March 6, and concludes on Tuesday, March 7. To get your children or grandchildren ready for the fun holiday, you could enjoy reading with them this parody on Little Red Riding Hood, wherein Lily whizzes on a skateboard toward grandma’s condo in Florida. Lily has hamantaschen loaded into her backpack.
Wolf(e) Foiled Again in Little Red Riding Hood Parody for Purim Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Gary Wolfson and Andrew Georgitsis have partnered at the informal “Bunny Chow” restaurant in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego, featuring not only bunny chow but other South African dishes reflecting that country’s ethnic diversity. [Donald H. Harrison]
If You Know What Bunny Chow Is, You May Be from South Africa Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Travel and Food
The 103-minute documentary Deadly Deception at Sobibor, shows what happened to the camp after the famous escape. The work, painstakingly put together by filmmaker Gary Hochtman, will be shown at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb 16, at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. [Donald H. Harrison]
Documentary Reveals Gruesome Discoveries at Sobibor Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast