Cat Zavis

About Cat Zavis

As the Executive Director of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, I am working to build a spiritually progressives social change movement - integrating spirituality and activism to build a world based on a new bottom line of love and justice. To learn more about our work please go to: In addition, I am a Mediator and Trainer in Compassionate Communication. I, along with Rabbi Michael Lerner, provide trainings in communicating across differences (such as Israel/Palestine) and also on being a Spiritual Activist.\"Working with Rabbi Lerner and Cat Zavis around how to talk about Israel-Palestine was such a transformative experience and, frankly, such a relief. After weeks of deeply unproductive \"conversations\"​ (aka yelling/shaming matches) with people on all sides of the issue, I had given up on talking about it at all. Learning from Cat about empathic communication and getting a chance to role-play with one another gave me a whole new sense of how I might engage with people on the heart-level, even about this touchy-in-the-extreme subject. Rabbi Lerner brings a deep and deeply compassionate understanding to the narratives of both people\'s, underscoring their separate and intersecting traumas in a way that gives us permission to love the whole bunch of them, which we are going to need to do if we want to bring this catastrophic mess to an end. I promise you there is no better place to learn how to do this than with Michael and Cat. You will not be disappointed.” Deb Kory, psychotherapist and activist\"Cat has a rare combination of an incisive intellect and a empathic understanding of others. Cat is also a gifted trainer who is highly responsive to participant needs. I attended an extraordinary full day training she gave on Nonviolent Communication. I wholeheartedly recommend Cat as a trainer, a Collaborative attorney, and as a mediator.” J Mark Weiss, Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Mediator and Trainer

Experience

1. Rabbi

   Beyt Tikkun Synagogue Without Walls

   Jul 2023 — Present · Berkeley, CA, US

Education

• Northeastern University School of Law

  J.D., Law

  1987 — 1990

• Claremont McKenna College

  Bachelor's degree

Skills

• Domestic Relations
• Public Speaking
• Conflict Resolution
• Collaborative Divorce
• Legal Writing
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Training
• Collaborative Practice
• Conflict
• Attorneys
• Conflict Transformation
• Coaching
• Personal Development
• Teaching
• Legal Issues
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Family Law
• Collaborative Law
• Family Mediation
• Divorce Law
• Separation
• Dispute Resolution
• Conflict Management
• Mediation
• Workshop Facilitation
• Dispute