Jennifer Block

Jennifer Block, MA, (she/her) is a Buddhist chaplain, Interfaith minister, educator, and Zen practitioner whose current chaplaincy work focuses on accompanying people through the spiritual and emotional dimensions of aging, illness, dying, grief, and profound life transitions.

One of the early Buddhist chaplains in the United States, Jennifer brings decades of experience in hospice, grief, and spiritual care, including her years as Director of Education and Chaplain at Zen Hospice Project, where she helped develop and share its distinctive contemplative approach to care for the dying.

She is a founding faculty member of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies’ Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Programs, has facilitated Jizo ceremonies for mourners with San Francisco Zen Center since 2012, and brings her experience to her work with individuals and families, caregivers, clinicians, and chaplaincy students. Jennifer holds a master’s degree from Naropa University (2000), received lay initiation from Norman Fischer in 2012, and served as shuso with Peter van der Sterre and Oak Street Zendo in 2021. She brings warmth, authenticity, deep listening, and a grounded, compassionate presence to her chaplaincy care and to her work as an educator and facilitator.