How I Stayed Orthodox In The US Army | With Joe Bootin
How I Stayed Orthodox In The US Army | With Joe Bootin

BrainStorm with Sony Perlman

Staff Sergeant Joe Bootin shares his path from troubled teen and heavy drinking to sober life as an Orthodox Jew in the US Army, reflecting on community, faith and recovery. The conversation highlights how he balances religious observance with military demands while rethinking expectations in relationships and sobriety.

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1:31:22•26 Jul 2026

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Faith, Sobriety and a Staff Sergeant: Joe Bootin on Being Orthodox in the US Army

Episode Overview

Getting sober often starts with wanting to change for loved ones, but lasting recovery depends on deciding to do it for yourself.
Early exposure to recovery meetings and supportive communities can become a lifeline later, even if it doesn’t click at first.
Faith practices like keeping kosher and Shabbos can be maintained in demanding environments when someone is clear about their values and prepared to sacrifice for them.
Being open about religious identity can turn a person into a reference point for others, creating chances for honest conversations about belief and culture.
Letting go of unrealistic expectations of others reduces resentment and helps relationships, recovery journeys and work life feel more sustainable.

“I didn't join to lose my religion. I worked so hard to find myself, find God that I believe in, and I'm not going to just lose it all because I'm over here.”

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey while juggling faith, family and even the US Army? This conversation between host Sony Perlman and long-time friend Staff Sergeant Joe Bootin packs in exactly that mix. Joe looks back on his teenage years in the Our Place drop‑in centre, bouncing between yeshivas, getting kicked out of schools, and smoking two packs a day while demolishing Sudoku puzzles.

He talks about how that chaotic period eventually led to serious drinking, blackouts and a string of near‑misses. Thanks to a nudge from his friend Shimshon, he ended up in “the rooms”, where he first realised withdrawal wasn’t just a bad mood on a Friday night. You’ll hear Joe explain how the birth of his daughter pushed him to want change, but that lasting sobriety only came once he accepted he had to do it for himself.

He shares the bet that started his 30 dry days, the relapse that followed, and the decision to go cold turkey and stay connected to recovery support even after moving states. From there, the story shifts to something you don’t hear every day: staying strictly Orthodox in the US Army.

Joe describes losing 40 pounds in basic training on MREs and hard‑boiled eggs to keep kosher, refusing to shave on Shabbos, and handing his commanding officer the phone number of the top Jewish chaplain when his beard became an issue. He’s frank about the daily compromises, the times he’s had others reply to his emails on Shabbos, and how being “the Jewish guy” turned him into an unofficial spokesperson for Judaism among soldiers and chaplains.

Threaded through all of this is his core lesson: Expectations lead to resentment, and learning to let go of the wrong expectations helped his recovery, his relationships and his military career. If you’re wondering whether faith, sobriety and a tough job can really coexist, this episode might leave you asking what expectations you’re ready to drop today.

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