Rabbi Jackson was born in Ireland. He studied at Jews' College, London and received his rabbincal certificate from Chief Rabbi Lord Jakobovits. Rabbi Jackson began his distinguished ministerial career in the Kingston upon Thames Synagogue, followed by the Kenton Synagogue before finally serving for nineteen years as Rabbi of the Hampstead Garden Synagogue, from 1980 until 1998. 

During his long and valuable service to the Anglo Jewish community, he was a member of the Chief Rabbi's Cabinet; a member of the Committee of the Conference of European Rabbis; Chairman of the Jewish Marriage Council; the creator and organiser of the United Synagogue Inter-Synagogue Quiz and Chaplain to Wandsworth and Pentonville Prisons.