Vayntrub in her AT&T spot

it weren’t for the help of the Jewish
Federation and HIAS [ founded as
the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society to
assist refugees].
“I can relate to what it’s like to have
to relocate. I think it’s a cause that
does not get enough attention by any-
body, and it’s only getting worse.”
Vayntrub volunteers in promoting
and fundraising for various organiza-
tions, which she will elaborate on dur-
ing her talk. She calls attention to the
website Can’t Do Nothing, which she
helped start as a way to inform people
about opportunities to give time,
money or voice in making a difference
in the lives of refugees.
Among the other organizations
drawing her attention are the Syria
Fund, which expresses a focus on
education for kids attached to the
refugee camps in Jordan, and Carry
the Future, which provides baby car-
riers to make the journey for Syrian
refugees a little easier.
“I’ve been volunteering for a long
time, but only in the past couple of
years has there been a revelation in
me that I have to be a global citizen,”
she says. “I really love small organiza-
tions that are hands-on in giving.
“They’re often organizations that
don’t have a big public relations bud-
get, and so I find that I’ve been able
to use my voice to bring attention to
their causes. Thinking locally is so
important, but I also understand that

if part of the world is sick, then the
whole world is still sick.”
The actress tells about her family’s
early years in America and how her
parents accepted odd jobs on the
way to her father’s ownership of a
restaurant and her mother’s work in
a doctor’s office. Those experiences
influenced her understanding of what
refugees face.
Vayntrub, whose family is now
settled into the United States, looks to
her parents for inspiration in coming
up with a humorous outlook for her
improv performances and finds pure
relaxation walking her dog.
“My mom is incredibly silly,” she
says. “My dad has a joke quite literally
on every topic. You could sit with him
for hours, and it will be joke after joke.
“I like to hang out with my dog
outdoors. There are so many beautiful
parks and hiking opportunities in Los
Angeles, and I want to see all of them.”
Although this is her first time at
Shaarey Zedek, she got a bit of a pre-
view from two California friends, Flint
and Reid Wainess, whose mom, Didi
Wainess, attends the synagogue and
has met Vayntrub.
“I was very impressed with her
documentary showing her visit to
Greece, where she went on vacation
and stayed to help the refugees,” Didi
Wainess says. “I plan on going to
Woman’s World and hearing more
about her experiences.” •

details

Lois Linden Nelson Woman’s World runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. The luncheon program starts at noon. No
admission fee for the shops. $70 for lunch and program. (248) 357-5544, ext. 48;
llnwomansworld.org.

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April 19 • 2018

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