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.
It was abundantly clear during Supervisor Nathan Fletcher’s presentation and the testimony of various members of the Jewish community at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24, that a permanent Holocaust museum in San Diego is desired. [Donald H. Harrison]
Sunday Soundoff: Holocaust Museum, Gun Violence, Homeless Housing Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, Opinion, San Diego County
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Jan. 24, declared that day to be Holocaust Remembrance Day in San Diego County – three days before this coming Friday’s commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, coinciding with the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in 1945. [Donald H. Harrison]
County Supervisors Approve & Help Finance Holocaust Remembrance Exhibit Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USA
Sometimes you feel so stressed, you think you are going to SNAP! That, according to author Julie Potiker, is a good thing, assuming you are referring to SNAP as an acronym. [Donald H. Harrison]
Dealing with Stress? It’s a SNAP! Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles
President Franklin D. Roosevelt was too concerned about negative public opinion to take the leadership on finding refuge in the United States for European Jewry during the early years of the Holocaust, scholar Lawrence Baron told a bruncheon audience at Tifereth Israel Synagogue on Sunday. [Donald H. Harrison]
Holocaust Refuge at Fort Ontario, New York, Recalled Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, USAHaving been “retired” as editor and publisher of San Diego Jewish World for more than a year, I find myself wanting to write occasional opinion columns in addition to the book reviews and features which I’ve continued to submit to our publication’s new leader Jacob Kamaras. So, with the indulgence of you readers, I’m going to sound off periodically on issues of concern to me as a Jew. [Donald H. Harrison]
Sunday Soundoff: Transgendered Women, Christening Ceremonies, and Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Celebrities, Lifestyles, Opinion, San Diego County, USA
“The exhibit … aims to combat bigotry and hate by investing in greater education and understanding of the history of hate and racism towards the Jewish community and other victims of the Holocaust,” Fletcher continued. “The United States Institute of Peace emphasizes the role that memorialization plays in reconstructing social fabric and relations following conflict. It is important that the initiative is led by those with personal connections to the Holocaust, as well as with the San Diego community, to encourage authentic representation and meaningful engagement.” [Donald H. Harrison]
County Supervisors to Vote Jan. 24 on Funding Holocaust Exhibit Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, San Diego County
This book is billed as one for women, but in fact the issues it discusses apply equally to the genders. In her memoir, Laura Black tells of her struggles with weight and her recognition that because of it, her parents were embarrassed by her. To demonstrate her worth, she threw herself first into business and secondly into the law, eventually combining the two to create an agency to supply lawyers on a temporary basis to law firms that were crushed with work. Her career won her recognition and plaudits, but did not erase her negative self-image. [Donald H. Harrison]
Finding Meaning in the Last Part of Your Life Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles
Various items connected to the celebration of Passover have gone missing in their home: Passover placemats, a Seder plate puzzle, Afikomen bag, even matzo. With the discovery of each disappearance, Michael texts the Easter bunny, asking him to put that item in the Golden Easter Egg. But the placemats, puzzle, and Afikomen bag, are too large to fit in the bag, even though the Easter Bunny pushed, patted, squished, and squashed. [Donald H. Harrison]
Missing Information Detracts from Passover & Easter Tale Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
After years of running and hiding during the Holocaust, Jenny Benrey, decided that her five-year-old daughter, the future novelist Michèle Sarde, should be baptized in the Catholic Church. So many of her relatives and friends had disappeared in the Nazi Holocaust! But later, when it came time for Michèle’s confirmation, Jenny could not bring herself to complete her abandonment of Judaism. Michèle was withdrawn from the confirmation class, thereafter living neither as a practicing Jew nor as a Catholic. And the Holocaust that had prompted Jenny’s impulses became a forbidden subject, enveloped in silence. [Donald H. Harrison]
Sephardic Family History Stretches from Spanish Inquisition to Post-Holocaust Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
One notices almost immediately after boarding this cruise ship that it is musically themed. There are show rooms named for such musicians as B.B. King and The Rolling Stones. Four decks are named after composers Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Gershwin. On the most forward of three elevator landings on Deck 5, there is an autographed photo of its namesake Jewish composer, who is well known for “An American in Paris” and “Porgy and Bess.” On the landing for the aft elevator, there is a cassette tape encased in a blue background – a physical interpretation, is it not?—of Gershwin’s celebrated “Rhapsody in Blue.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Jewish Nuggets on MS Koningsdam Cruise from San Diego Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Travel and Food
By his own assessment, being a rabbi who must give sermons before a congregation and empathize with congregants during times of their loss or emotional stress is a challenge that others might believe insurmountable given his high-functioning autism. [Donald H. Harrison]
Autistic Rabbi Brutally Honest about Issues and Himself Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
Although this graphic novel is about sleepaway summer camp, there’s a warning that it is not a book for kids. That’s because it’s graphic in another sense, with scatological and sexual images pertaining to the hopes and imagination of adolescent boys. [Donald H. Harrison}
Graphic Novel About Kids’ Camp Not Drawn for Kids Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
So, about two months ago, Rabbi Labkowski and his wife Tzipora opened Bay Kosher in the front part of the building that also houses their shul, Chabad of Lamorinda. He engaged Mendel Schiffer, a native of Akko, Israel, to manage the store for him. Schiffer, who didn’t care for retirement, had been in sales most of his life, and yearned for something new to do. [Donald H. Harrison]
Chabad Opens Kosher Market in Lafayette Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Travel and FoodMy friend Susan Ferraro, who lives in a rural part of Northern California. tells me that since about the age of 7, she had fantasized about becoming a Jew. It started, she said, when she read Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. As children often do, she imagined herself invulnerable; death being something that unfortunately happened to other people. If she had been born Jewish, and living at that time, she could have prevented those Nazis from hurting Anne and her family and those hidden with them in the secret annex. [Donald H. Harrison]
Postwar Encounters with the Holocaust Read More »
California, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts