Shir Meira Feit

Shir Meira Feit ( and formerly known as Shir Yaakov) is an American rabbi, composer, liturgist, singer-songwriter, spiritual counselor, and graphic designer. Feit is genderqueer. As a musician, they have recorded several albums both solo and with the groups Darshan and The Epichorus. In their spiritual career, Feit has been a figure in the Jewish Renewal movement, having served the congregations Kol Hai, Kol Zimrah, and Romemu and served as ritual consultant at Eden Village Camp and visiting faculty at the Academy for Jewish Religion and the Jewish Theological Seminary. They are also a member of the Zen Peacemaker order.

After graduating high school, Feit worked in photography, graphic and web design. They started becoming more religious in their early 20s, influenced by Sefer Yetzirah and the works of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, the founder of the Jewish Renewal movement.

Music career Solo albums Feit began their music career with the EP Shir (2008), followed by their debut album Zeh (2009). They have since released two more solo albums, Az (2010) and Lah (2015). Their song "Broken Hearted" won The Forward'''s 2016 Soundtrack of Our Spirit competition.

Darshan

In 2008, while working at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, Feit met the Jewish rapper Eprhyme (Eden Pearlstein). After playing their respective music for each other, Eprhyme invited Feit to sing on their debut album Waywordwonderwill, and the two later formed the duo Darshan.

Other activities Feit is one of the founding members of Kol Zimrah, an independent minyan and chavurah on the Upper West Side. They have also founded and worked with the Jewish Renewal congregations Kol Hai In April 2016, Feit was one of around 100 Jewish leaders, including Rabbis Rachel Barenblat, Saul Berman, and Shefa Gold, to sign a petition of denouncement against spiritual guru Marc Gafni, in light of allegations of sexual misconduct against Gafni.

Personal life As of 2023, Feit "describe themself as genderqueer or gender-fluid"

Discography

Solo recordings Shir EP ("Song") (2008)Zeh ("This") (2009)Az ("Then") (2010)Lah ("To Her") (2015)

With Darshan Lishmah EP (2010; Shemspeed)Deeper and Higher (2015)

With The Epichorus

One Bead (2012) Precession (2016)

Other Blanket Statementstein, Blanket Statementstein (2008) – vocals ("Never Stress") Eprhyme, Waywordwonderwill (2009) – vocals ("Tikkun Adam" and "Fixing Midnight") Eprhyme, Dopestylevsky'' (2011) – vocals (with Darshan) ("Better in the Dark")