Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Jackie Graham moved to England with her family as a toddler and attended a total of five different primary schools plus a high school there, returning to Ayr in Scotland at age 13 where she finished her secondary education.

She went on to take an Honours Degree in French, Italian, and Linguistics at Edinburgh University, which included spending one academic year as an English language assistant in France. After a number of years as a language teacher for both adults and children, Jackie re-qualified as a translator. She translated freelance from home until she and her husband David came to live in Israel, from Borehamwood UK.

They settled in Modiin in 2007, drawn by the birth of three grandsons in Israel within a period of three weeks. After completing several Ulpan courses (a sobering experience for a linguist) Jackie became involved in ESRA Tutoring Program (ETP), shortly after joining ESRA Modiin. She took over ESRA Modiin’s Let’s Talk program in 2014 from founder Brenda Brett and is still the English speakers’ coordinator for this popular scheme.

Apart from grandparenting activities and helping her husband run their local Anglo Synagogue, Jackie volunteers in the ESRA Modiin bookshop, delivers ESRAmagazines and assists the local ETP coordinator by organizing Modiin’s Amit High School volunteers.