Julia Jackson has just celebrated her 108th birthday, earning the distinction of being the oldest member of the United Synagogue and widely believed to be the oldest Jewish woman in Britain today.

Born on April 23, 1918, Julia’s life stretches across more than a century of Jewish history, from pre World War I Europe to today’s modern world, yet she remains remarkably vibrant and engaged. Raised in Sunderland to immigrant parents, her mother a kosher grocer and her father a tailor, Julia grew up in a traditional Jewish home that shaped her lifelong connection to community and Yiddishkeit.

In her younger years, she was a pianist, reaching concert level skill and continuing to play music even into her later years. During World War II, she contributed to the war effort, working as a secretary for an aircraft manufacturer and signing the Official Secrets Act, another remarkable chapter in a life already filled with history.

Julia eventually settled in North West London, where she became a longtime member of Finchley Synagogue (Kinloss), maintaining her connection to shul for decades and eventually earning her the title of the synagogue’s oldest member. Today, she lives in a Jewish Care home, where she continues to surprise those around her, not just with her age, but with her energy. Described as a “fast walker” even at 108, Julia credits simple habits for her long and healthy life, including a love of vegetables, especially broccoli 🙂 But those who know her say it’s more than diet. It’s her mindset. Her resilience. Her connection to family, community, and purpose.