TL;DR: Israeli culture has become a powerful source of global influence, not only through technology and the arts, but also through the unexpected success of Israeli jazz. Founded by Raphael Perez, the IsraeliJazz project documents and promotes Israeli jazz through books, exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and international partnerships. The project aims to strengthen Israel’s global image by showcasing its diversity, innovation, and cultural depth, and by joining the Global Jewry network, Perez hopes to spark new partnerships and share the beauty of Israel’s jazz scene on an international scale.

The contribution of Israeli culture to global cultural influence is significant. Israeli artists have earned an international reputation in many fields, including classical music, cinema, television series, literature, contemporary dance, and, of course, pop music, regularly highlighted through the Eurovision Song Contest.

Since the earliest texts of Jewish tradition, music, art and literature have held a central place in cultural life. In the difficult times Israel is currently facing, the role of artists becomes even more important: through their work, they help showcase the country’s diversity, creativity, and human depth.

In the same way, Israel’s image as the “Start-Up Nation” has had an important global impact, positioning the country as a major force in innovation while generating considerable economic and strategic advantages.

Cultural influence, however, represents a particularly important challenge. It offers an opportunity to reveal the deeper nature of Israeli society and to create emotional connections with international audiences. Yet in many Western countries, it is often within cultural and academic circles that the most critical perceptions of Israel are found.

But did you know that Israel has also become highly influential in a surprising and unexpected field: jazz?

Often described as America’s greatest cultural contribution to the world, jazz arrived in Israel with the first waves of Aliyah from the United States following the creation of the State of Israel in the early 1950s. In just a few decades, the country evolved from a handful of private lessons taught in homes to a vibrant professional scene that today includes more than 400 professional jazz musicians. Many now perform on the world’s leading stages and are widely recognized for their creativity and artistic excellence. And the education system is famous.

This is precisely the mission of the international IsraeliJazz project: to document and promote the history of Israeli jazz, its musicians, as well as its schools, clubs, festivals, and key figures.

Launched in 2018 by French photographer Raphael Perez, the project has gradually built a growing international community of more than 28,000 members worldwide. IsraeliJazz regularly produces and shares content through social media, newsletters, and a wide range of cultural events.

Several initiatives have already taken place in different countries, including eight photography exhibitions, around twenty public lectures and presentations, and multiple concerts that have given Israeli musicians opportunities to perform abroad at a time when international engagements have significantly declined since October 7, 2023.

The coffee table book IsraeliJazz, The Blend of Blends is one of the cornerstones of the project. Written in both French and English, this unique 288-page volume tells the story of Israeli jazz in remarkable detail and features the biographies and photographs of 92 musicians. Widely praised by both audiences and industry professionals, the book was notably presented at a book fair in Palm Springs in November 2025, where it received an enthusiastic response.

Following this presentation, a nonprofit organization was established in the United States to develop new partnerships and expand the project’s activities across the American market. It will work closely with the parent nonprofit organization based in France.

Beyond simply telling the story of Israeli jazz, IsraeliJazz highlights several characteristics deeply associated with Israeli success stories: a strong work ethic, an international vision from the very beginning of projects, a remarkable capacity for innovation and collaboration, and the richness of a truly multicultural society.

Raphael Perez, who spent many years as an executive in the high-tech industry, often draws a parallel between Israel’s achievements in jazz and in technology. In both fields, success is built on similar values: excellence, creativity, adaptability, and openness to the world, combined with a shared desire to make an original, innovative, and meaningful contribution to the international stage (it is what we call Tikun Olam).

Whether in culture or in business, these achievements help strengthen a positive image of Israel around the world.

The project also plays an important unifying role among audiences supportive of Israel. Through this little-known cultural story, many discover an inspiring and positive narrative that offers a meaningful counterbalance to the often anxiety-driven news coverage found in traditional media. This cultural approach generates genuine interest because it brings a sense of hope and relief in a frequently tense environment, while also making possible the organization of major cultural events around the project.

By joining the network of Global Jewry, Raphael Perez hopes to further increase the project’s visibility, develop new international partnerships, and support future productions, including a documentary film currently under consideration with a leading international media company specializing in music.

Through the story of Israel’s success in jazz and the large-scale distribution of cultural content, IsraeliJazz aims to promote an image of Israel rooted in creativity, artistic excellence, and cultural dialogue.

In addition to initiatives that focus more directly on politics or geopolitics, our project represents a unique, positive, and much-needed cultural approach.

Raphael Perez and his small team of three volunteers coordinate an international network of around twenty contributors whose dedication enables the project to continue growing and expanding its reach across many countries.

For more information: www.israelijazz.com

Shavua tov,

Raphael Perez

President, IsraeliJazz

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