Penny Philips, at The Blogs

Penny Philips

Nov 21, 2025, 8:30 PM

In the years leading up to October 7, I became a little bit closer to Judaism. As the conflict intensified, I did more research, trying to find out what exactly was happening in Israel. And the result was my...

Nov 20, 2025, 10:53 PM

The Most Terrifying Debates I’ve Had With Pro-Palestinians

Stock photo from @Mohamed_hassan on Pixabay.

A few years ago, my parents told me I should get into debate. My psychologist, my school counselor, and my teachers all echoed this. They said I would be very good at arguing my point of view, and I...

Oct 22, 2025, 10:47 PM

The Magic of Chanukah

The dwindling winter months. Sizzling latkes in a pan. Reciting the prayers with my family. Lighting candles of all colors and watching as they melted into puddles of wax. Opening presents, wrapped in my Safta's collection of adorable wrapping...

Oct 22, 2025, 9:09 PM

My Take on the Odeya / Bad Bunny Controversy

On September 1, the controversy around Odeya Azoulay's album cover erupted in both Israel and Puerto Rico. Accusations of colonization, cultural appropriation, and other seemingly outlandish things were thrown at the Israeli singer. But more than one month later,...

Sep 1, 2025, 7:31 AM

My “Innocent” Childhood – A Luxury I Never Asked For

I was born in Santa Barbara, California, to an Orthodox Jewish mother and a father of both Ashkenazi and English descent. My mother's parents, whom I call Saba and Safta, were very religious. My mother and her brother gravitated...

About Me

I was born in Santa Barbara, California, to a family of both Orthodox and Agnostic backgrounds. I moved to Oregon as a young child, where I have lived ever since. I have long questioned my beliefs, but my Jewish identity has remained strong. I believe in a peaceful solution to the conflict in the Land of Israel, and it has long been my dream to someday visit the land which my identity is strongly tied to.