A Little Extra Light – Sayydah Garrett

Merrill Silver (L) and Sayydah Garrett (R)

Merrill Silver (L) and Sayydah Garrett (R)

This year our Simcha Band had a special guest at the Shomrei Chanukah party, Sayydah Garrett. A Muslim living in Glen Ridge, Sayydah wanted to play in our band in the spirit of brother/sister-hood. Her playing was beautiful and she certainly added more light to our festivities!

Sayydah writes

I want to thank Merrill Silver, Rabbi Greenstein, Mark Weinstein, members of the Simcha Band, and the entire congregation at Shomrei Emunah for its warm and friendly welcoming of me in the band. I had the best time! Who knew that I, a Muslim, would end up playing 11 Chanukah songs?? I’ve always been open-minded and ready to participate in any activities that promote peace and understanding between people of different faiths and backgrounds. How lovely that Congregation Shomrei Emunah invites others to share in the joy of music, peace, brother/sister-hood!!

I wish all of you a most Happy Chanukah!! Peace and Blessings for the New Year!!

Peace, love, and happiness,
Sayydah Garrett xoxo

More about Sayydah:

Sayydah was born in Montreal, Canada to a Ukrainian mother and African-American father from Harlem. Her birth name was Laura and when her family embraced Islam in 1971 her name was changed to Sayydah, which means “happy.” As a child she took ballet and jazz dance classes, and studied piano and clarinet at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montreal. Sayydah, her parents, and 4 brothers enjoyed performing together at concerts and music festivals. She loves languages and speaks fluent English and French, learned Ukrainian as a child, majored in Russian Language & Literature at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and speaks intermediate Spanish.

Sayydah has worked in the nonprofit sector for many years: as a development associate at a homeless shelter in Plainfield, New Jersey, and currently as an ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor at Jewish Vocational Service in East Orange. Her passion is helping people – all people!! Her personal mission statement is, “Tell me what you want and I’ll help you get it.”

While on safari in Kenya in August, 2012, Sayydah visited a tribal Maasai village where she learned about 2 harmful practices that adversely affect girls – female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced child marriage. These practices prevent many girls from attending school. Therefore, Sayydah founded her own nonprofit organization (501C3) to educate girls in Samburu and Maasai Mara, Kenya by providing workshops and scholarships for girls to attend secondary boarding schools. Her nonprofit is the Pastoralist Child Foundation (www.pastoralistchildfoundation.org).

Sayydah and her dedicated team in Kenya are making good progress in reducing FGM rates and enrolling more girls in school.

Sayydah is married 32 years to GRAMMY award jazz saxophonist & composer, Kenny Garrett. They reside in Glen Ridge, NJ. They have one daughter, Halima.

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2 thoughts on “A Little Extra Light – Sayydah Garrett

  1. It is the little things that bring people and communities together. Thank you Merrill for extending the invite and than you Sayydah for accepting

  2. Had I known, I would have come to the Hanukkah party! Sayydah’;s participation in the band puts in mind of the tradition in Eastern Europe of Roma (“Gypsies”) and Jews playing in the same wedding bands. The fact that Sayydah is from Montreal, a favorite city of mine, is an added plus. Mazel tov and thanks!

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