Rabbi Michael Perice is known nationally for his advocacy work on addiction and mental health and publicly shared his own story of recovery from opioid addiction in 2021. Rabbi Perice has served as an advisory board member for Safe House, an overdose prevention non-profit, and the City of Philadelphia through the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services on issues related to addiction and mental health.  Rabbi Perice is committed to ending the stigma of addiction in the United States.

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. My drugs of choice were OxyContin and Fentanyl. My sobriety date is April 2011.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. All of the above. Addiction is a paradox. On the one hand no one would ever want to be an addict. No one would ever dream of living this life. And yet, we are the very reason things need to change. Only we can change our lives.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I’m from South Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia, and that is where I am now.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Dynamic. In the sense that I’m always changing and progressing.

Q. Describe how you came to your “rock bottom” point.

A. At some point you’ve stolen every dollar you can steal. Told every lie you can tell. And it all catches up to you. And it caught up to me.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. Lake or ocean.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. Success is when the gifts you have to give are received by others.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. My mom.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. Find a boxing gym and commit to doing something hard that will push you outside your comfort zone.

Q. Who made you feel seen growing up?

A. Making people laugh.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

A. I admire anyone who has overcome immense odds and still believes in people and purpose.

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

A. A year after I got clean, I was working for my family’s funeral home. I was an assistant funeral director, basically driving the hearse. An elderly gentleman died who had one living sibling — a sister. There had been a major snowstorm, and they couldn’t get her wheelchair to the graveside. So the decision was made she would sit in the car. I decided to sit with her, and asked her about her brother. I didn’t realize it in that moment, but I was offering her the ministry of presence by just listening. I wasn’t super religious at the time, more exploring my faith, but at the end I asked her to say a prayer with me. The look on her face was like I had just given her the greatest of gifts. It was then I knew I wanted to be a spiritual leader, that I wanted to help people in their hardest moments.

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. The opportunities. Being in recovery has taken me places I never thought I’d go.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. I believe God is transcendent. But that a spark of divinity lives somewhere within each of us. Through our words and deeds and faith, we can activate that spark and connect deeper with God and purpose. Recovery only enhances that process.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Not sure. I think Aquarius.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. Robert Downey Jr. because he helps so many people struggling and never writes anyone off. Redemption is in short supply nowadays.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. The Hebrew Bible.

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. I have this dream that one day I’ll read Infinite Jest, but it’s massive. Maybe I’ll start a page a day practice and I’ll be done in a few years.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. The Sandlot.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Christopher Nolan, but I’ll give an honorable mention to Kevin Smith for his love of Jersey.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. The West Wing.

Q. What is your favorite App?

A. YouTube and Spotify.

Q. What are some of the most memorable songs in your life?

A. Holocene by Bon Iver. It’s my recovery song. I found it early in my recovery.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. Philadelphia.

Q. What is the best concert/performance/play you’ve ever attended?

A. Billy Joel.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. Everything I’m about to tell you. You already know. I’m just reminding you.

Q. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A. My family, and becoming a rabbi.

Q. What is your favorite compliment to receive, and why?

A. That I take criticism really well.

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. Not trying.

Q. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

A. I hope I’m not getting sick.