Jennifer Block is an Interfaith minister and Buddhist chaplain who has practiced Zen, Insight Meditation, and yoga since 1988. Her life’s work is providing spiritual care to people in crisis, mentoring caregivers, and teaching people how to access their innate capacity for caring and healing.
Based in San Francisco, Jennifer is a nationally recognized educator and consultant to many organizations and businesses, conducting workshops that bridge spiritual, hospice, and contemplative care modalities.
As one of the first Buddhist chaplains in the country, Jennifer brings many years of experience in hospice, grief, and chaplaincy work to her practice with caregivers, clinicians, chaplaincy students, and especially those who are facing the spiritual and emotional issues related to aging, sickness, dying and grief. Her skills as an engaging teacher and facilitator are matched by the ease and authenticity of her caregiving practice.
BACKGROUND:
In 2003, Jennifer founded the Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program with Gil Fronsdal and Paul Haller at the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies in Redwood City, CA. From 2004 to 2011, Jennifer served as the Director of Education & Chaplain at Zen Hospice Project, creating a curriculum based on their contemplative care approach.
From 1998 to 2004, Jennifer trained in spiritual care and pastoral education at St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco. She completed her undergraduate degree at Boston University (1985), and her theology degree at Naropa University (2000), and was ordained an Interfaith minister in 1998. In 2012, Jennifer received Lay Ordination Norman Fischer of Everyday Zen. When in need of recuperation from life’s daily stresses, Jennifer and her husband immerse themselves in nature and play time in the dog world.