The Military Religious Freedom Foundation

From: David Miller <[email protected]>
Subject: The Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Date: July 6, 2023 at 10:27:28 AM MDT
To: Michael L Weinstein <[email protected]>

To Whom It May Concern,

About 20 years ago I found myself all alone in a fight for my life. I had recently moved back to my home state of Iowa. I was in ill health and, as a veteran, receiving medical care from the Iowa City V.A. Medical Center.

The problem was that at that time the Iowa City V.A. was still a pretty small facility and was overwhelmingly staffed by fundamentalist Christians who neither understood nor approved of my Jewish faith. Beginning the first day I arrived at the facility I was harassed about my faith. Over time the harassment became worse with even the chaplain joining in and telling me I was going to hell. On one occasion when I was hospitalized, confined to bed and wired to a heart monitor the chaplain entered my room (despite my written and verbal instructions that I not be visited by the chaplain), stood over my bed and proceeded to try to covert me. He told me I was very ill, that I could die and if I didn’t accept Jesus as my savior I would burn in hell for eternity.

After months of declining health, harassment by staff and objections on my part I finally lodged a formal protest and it was at that time the Iowa City V.A. cut off my care in retaliation for my complaint. I was stuck at home, in incredible pain with 7 kidney stones and didn’t know where to turn. Thankfully a dear friend from out of state called and told me about Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

The day I called and spoke with Mikey he got to work. He flew out to Iowa and thanks to his personal intervention the Department of Veterans Affairs also flew out an investigator who not only verified my allegations but discovered Anti-Semitic notations in my medical chart.

While the Department of Veterans Affairs was mandating significant changes and training at the V.A. facility in Iowa City, Mikey arranged for me to fly to Dallas, Texas and receive the medical intervention I needed from the Dallas V.A. Medical Center to rid me of my kidney stones.

It is not hyperbole to say that Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation saved my life, but more than that. Twenty years later and the Iowa City V.A. Medical Center, where I access my medical care today, is a thriving, professional, welcoming faculty filled with kind, courteous and respectful staff who welcome and serve veterans of all backgrounds, races and religions. Because of Mikey and the MRFF veterans of all stripes today receive quality, professional and compassionate care at the Iowa City V.A. Medical Center.

Respectfully,

Akiva David Miller
Kalona, Iowa