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.

SDJW Endorses Sean Elo-Rivera for City Council District 9

Conflict of interest allegations and failure to report contributions in a timely manner militate against Barrios’ candidacy.  He needs to get his own house in order before he can become a steward of the people’s. Luckily for the voters, Sean Elo-Rivera, a trustee of the San Diego Community College District, is also a candidate in the 9th Council District, which Gomez is vacating to run for Congress.  [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]

SDJW Endorses Sean Elo-Rivera for City Council District 9 Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, USA

GI Film Festival spotlights a Jewish violinist

When Enlisted Man Stuart Canin boarded a  European-bound U.S. Army transport ship near the end of World War II, he carried with him his barracks bag, rifle, and a violin. Challenged by an officer about what he thought he’d need a violin for, Canin, then a teenager, replied “You Never Know.” He was so right. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County.”

GI Film Festival spotlights a Jewish violinist Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Melanie Rubin, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Zoom, FB, YouTube block Leila Khaled speech to SFSU

Zoom, Facebook and YouTube cancelled use of their platforms Wednesday for the airing of a San Francisco State University sponsored webinar featuring airline hijacker Leila Khaled of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, with Zoom citing its obligation to obey U.S. law. [Donald H. Harrison]

Zoom, FB, YouTube block Leila Khaled speech to SFSU Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Study underway of S.D.’s South African Jews

The South African Jewish American Community, better known as SAJAC, has issued its annual magazine for 2020, reporting that San Diego State University Prof. David B. Cline is conducting oral history interviews with community members. The magazine’s writers also offer suggestions on coping with COVID19, and Alzheimer’s Disease, and additionally they profile young entrepreneurs, visual artists, and poets, among other articles. [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”

Study underway of S.D.’s South African Jews Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, San Diego County

‘Extra Innings’ is not only a baseball story

Released today on a variety of streaming services , Extra Innings is the story of a boy who was a very talented baseball player, whose Orthodox Jewish parents not only discouraged him from this pursuit, but also refused to attend any of his games. This was sad because the young man, modeled on writer/ director Albert Dabah’s own life, had natural talent, both as an outfielder and as a batter. [Movie review by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

RBG’s death prompts Jewish pride, sorrow

Back to work following the two-day observance of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish organizations are paying tribute to the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died at age 87 just before the High Holy Day. Among the tributes were the following: [Donald H. Harrison, “Our Shtetl San Diego County”]

RBG’s death prompts Jewish pride, sorrow Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

A prolific writer shares stories, fables, glimpses

The prolific author Lynne Sharon Schwartz has put together a collection of 25 of her short stories that have appeared in a variety of publications, calling the resulting book Truthtelling. To go on sale on October 6, the slim volume makes for engaging reading in short, concentrated bursts. The first story in the book, also called “Truthtelling,” tells of a long-married couple exchanging confessions about misdeeds during their marriage. [Book review by Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

Novel captures horror, confusion of Holocaust, recovery

I have read and reviewed numerous Holocaust memoirs, but none hit me with the impact of this novel — perhaps because the author infused The Brothers of Auschwitz  with such onomatopoeia as the sounds of machine gun fire, the clubbing of human beings, the whistle of death.  This made the experience different from  reading the more flatly narrated memories of Holocaust survivors; it stimulated me to not only read about the horrors of the camp, but to empathically experience them. [Donald H. Harrison]

Novel captures horror, confusion of Holocaust, recovery Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison

We must not let the Holocaust be ‘old news’

“Old news” is perhaps the most dismissive way an editor can reject a suggestion from a reporter, or an outside contributor, about an issue that the media outlet should tackle. San Diego Jewish World promises never to consider the Holocaust “old news,” whatever form that news may come, be it in recollections of still-surviving Holocaust victims; the efforts of second and third generation survivors to measure the Holocaust’s impact on their lives and those of their children; the novelists and playwrights who retell Holocaust stories; or the efforts of some in the academic world to minimize or distort the Holocaust. [Donald H. Harrison, ‘Our Shtetl San Diego County’]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

San Diego Dems cancel anti-Semitism debate

The chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Party, Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, doesn’t want the debate over anti-Semitism in the party’s ranks to be held until after the Nov. 3 election, if ever. On Sept. 10, Rodriguez-Kennedy sent a message to the county party’s central committee explaining his reason for wanting a delay. [Donald H. Harrison, Our Shtetl San Diego County]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Prospective and veteran clergy members contrast in style

Mark Dolson (Timothy Benson) is a seminarian ready to change the world, or at least the Catholic Church. He’d like to see women admitted to the priesthood. And he believes the church’s attitude opposed to homosexuality is outdated and archaic. Most of all, he believes that it is the job of the clergy to shake their parishioners from their materialism and complacency in order for them to truly follow the teachings of Jesus. [Play review by Donald H. Harrison]

Prospective and veteran clergy members contrast in style Read More »

Bernhard H. Rosenberg-Rabbi, Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

UAE, Bahrain, Israel and U.S. agree in peace ceremony

U.S. President Donald Trump is now engaged in two campaigns – one for reelection to the presidency, the other for the Nobel Peace Prize.On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the same day that a ceremony was held at the White House in which President Trump was joined by ranking ministers of Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to sign peace agreements known as the “Abraham Accords,” the White House Press Office issued a news release titled “Bahrain-Israel Deal Shows Why Trump Deserves Nobel Peace Prize.” [Donald H. Harrison]

UAE, Bahrain, Israel and U.S. agree in peace ceremony Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA