REALITY convenes global changemakers and leading industry professionals; leaders whose voices, platforms, and networks inform conversations across culture, media, business, and civic life.
REALITY offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience that begins in Israel and continues within the REALITY community. More than a leadership journey, it’s an immersive exploration into one of the world’s most complex regions, offering unparalleled access to top leaders, diverse perspectives, and transformative learning.
Participants engage in a highly curated Journey, gaining firsthand insights from professional counterparts and experiences that challenge conventional thinking. They return home with new perspectives, connections within and across industries, deep bonds with each other and the people they encountered, and a renewed commitment to drive meaningful change.
REALITY begins with a weeklong Journey in Israel. Participants go beyond the headlines and sound bites to explore Israel firsthand and engage with the diverse people and communities shaping its society and culture.
The REALITY Journey is a carefully curated experience that explores the richness and complexity of Israel and the region, providing participants with opportunities to raise questions, challenge assumptions, and reflect on their experiences through facilitated conversations. The Journey introduces participants to multiple narratives and perspectives on the historical, social, and political realities in Israel and the West Bank, engaging them with the interwoven stories, successes, and challenges of the region through the diverse people who call it home. They also meet the leaders spearheading efforts to build a shared society in which all communities can live, work, and thrive together.
The REALITY Journey is just the beginning; it anchors a sustained, high-caliber alumni community that serves as a powerful force for lifelong collaboration and impact.
Immersive Learning:
Gain access to top thought leaders and explore competing perspectives shaping the region’s future.
Transformative Connections:
Travel with a curated cohort of influential leaders, fostering deep relationships and authentic connections that transcend industries and borders.
Exclusive and Luxurious:
The REALITY Journey combines intellectual rigor with world-class hospitality, ensuring an impactful experience both professionally and personally.
OCTOBER 19 – 25, 2026
For people building what's next — entrepreneurs, investors, technologists, executives, builders, and leaders across the AI and innovation ecosystem driven by ideas, creativity, and possibility.
DECEMBER 7 – 13, 2026
For those who shape how stories are told — performers, writers, directors, producers, journalists, filmmakers, podcasters, publicists, content creators, executives, athletes, and creative visionaries.
AUGUST 10 – 16, 2026
In Partnership with Atlantic Council – Millennium Leadership Intensive Program
For innovators creating impact: thought leaders, policy professionals, advocates, organizers, and movement builders. Includes a three-month virtual pre-journey program from July to September.
NOVEMBER 9 – 14, 2026
A meaningful journey offering a unique opportunity to connect with Israel's diverse people and land, explore Israel's rich history, and engage with fellow White Rose recipients in a deeply personal experience.
To fill out the application for participation in open Journeys-
Beyond the Headlines:
REALITY takes participants into the heart of one of the most complex and highly charged political arenas of our time. Through immersive experiences, participants grapple with diverse narratives that illuminate Israel’s historical, religious, cultural, and political dynamics. Firsthand experience is essential for developing your own understanding of the region.
A Land of Diversity:
Home to a mosaic of communities and perspectives, Israel provides a unique environment to explore how multiple cultures and narratives coexist. Participants meet members of the Jewish, Arab, Palestinian, Ethiopian and LGBTQ+ communities to gain a deeper understanding of the region.
Connection and Community:
In a time when our world feels increasingly divided, this experience provides a space for reflection, learning and growth. It also offers something deeply personal: a chance to connect with the spiritual and cultural richness of a region that serves as the birthplace of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Safety and security are REALITY and itrek’s top priority. Over the past 15 years, REALITY and itrek have safely hosted more than 27,000 participants, including 23 Israel Treks in 2025.
Every group is accompanied by a highly trained and licensed security guard, who is also trained in first-aid. In addition, each group travels with a Tour Educator who is licensed according to Israel’s logistical, security and safety standards.
Every Journey is also staffed by a member of our REALITY Team to ensure the quality of the experience and well-being of each participant.
Connect with a member of the REALITY Team
to learn more about this unique opportunity.
As part of the REALITY Community, alumni have access to exclusive offerings to connect through learning sessions, in-person experiences, regional and affinity communities,
and REALITY Microgrants. Community is the cornerstone of the REALITY Journey.
From the moment participants land in Israel, they become part of a global network that amplifies their ability to create change.
REALITY’s impact extends beyond Israel. REALITY Alumni continue to connect through community programming focused on:
Learning:
Embracing curiosity about Israel and its complexities while encouraging peers to explore multiple narratives.
Leadership:
Strengthening their ability to navigate and lead through challenges, with programs designed to deepen their skills and impact.
Empathy:
Fostering spaces for diverse perspectives.
Inspired by the spirit of nuance, curiosity, and innovation embraced by REALITY,
we are proud to offer REALITY Impact Grants of up to $2,500 for REALITY Alumni.
REALITY begins with a weeklong Journey in Israel. Participants go beyond the headlines and sound bites to explore and engage with the diverse people and communities shaping the society and culture of Israel and the region.
Please view this page for event ideas to inspire your Microgrant application.
Invite your colleagues/peers to an Israeli or Middle-Eastern restaurant to discuss Israel, the region, and current events.
Find a local event: Film, exhibition, speaker, etc. that educates about Israel or the region. Example: NOVA Festival Exhibit
Host a virtual event or in-person gathering for your colleagues or peers featuring an expert speaker.
Propose your own idea for a REALITY Impact Grant.
REALITY is a community of influential leaders from diverse backgrounds and professional sectors who are motivated to deepen their ability to lead on complex issues. REALITY begins with a formative Journey through Israel in which participants develop a deeper understanding of Israeli society, and learn from and build connections with like-minded leaders.
itrek is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to empower leaders to engage their networks in meaningful Israel experiences. Israel Treks foster an understanding and appreciation of Israel’s culture, diversity, and complex reality, which participants carry back into their own lives and leadership roles. REALITY was created in 2009 as part of Schusterman Family Philanthropies. In June 2024 REALITY became a part of itrek, one of Schusteman’s long-standing grantees.
REALITY Journeys are designed for influential leaders from diverse backgrounds and industries, connected by a shared commitment to strengthening their leadership skills around complex issues. REALITY participants are committed to continuous learning, eager to expand their understanding of a complex region, and open to being challenged. REALITY participants lead with curiosity and humility, and come from a wide range of faiths, ethnicities, races, traditions, sexual orientations, gender identities, and geographic locations.
The impact of these Journeys is life-changing:
All REALITY Israel Journeys require a $1,500 upfront payment, which includes a $1,000 deposit (which you will receive back after the Journey) and a $500 non refundable program fee. Participants are responsible for booking their own round-trip flights to and from Israel. The program includes five-star hotel accommodations, award-winning restaurants, and a meticulously curated itinerary. The REALITY experience is highly subsidized to make this premier opportunity accessible.
The group is accompanied by a professional tour educator licensed according to Israel’s logistical, security, and safety standards, along with a security professional and a member of the REALITY Team. In addition, our logistics partner,
The $1,000 deposit is fully refundable up until one month before the start of your Journey. After that point, the deposit becomes non-refundable. The $500 program fee is non-refundable at any time. In exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of itrek, these policies may be adjusted.
Yes, all registered participants will receive a calendar invite for a Zoom orientation call with the REALITY Team and the rest of the participants on their Journey.
Leading up to your Journey, we will communicate with participants via email. After the orientation call, all of the participants and the REALITY staff from your journey will be invited to a WhatsApp group, which will be the way that we will communicate throughout our time together in Israel. You’ll also have the opportunity to introduce yourself to the rest of the group before you spend the week together!
We provide everyone with a bio book when they arrive in Israel, but this is not something we distribute in advance. However, you will have the opportunity to acquaint yourselves with the other Journey participants when you join the WhatsApp group.
Yes. All participants are expected to attend the virtual orientation program and complete pre and post-Journey surveys by set deadlines. Additionally, participants will be expected to attend at least one follow-up post-Journey virtual training and attend a three-month and six-month virtual reunion.
Beginning January 2025, all incoming travelers to Israel will require either an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) or B/2 Tourist Visa to enter Israel. Please see this visa guide for more information. You will also need a valid passport. Please ensure your passport does not expire before 6 months from the start of your Journey in Israel. If your passport is going to expire before then, you will need to make immediate arrangements for an expedited renewed passport. Additionally, we strongly recommend purchasing travel & medical insurance.
Although travel protection is not required, travel/medical coverage is highly encouraged. Please carefully review what is included in the coverage.
REALITY strongly recommends you have comprehensive medical coverage throughout your stay in Israel, either through your existing coverage or via supplemental coverage. Coverage must include:
REALITY does not endorse or specifically recommend any particular travel insurance plan or provider. There are many options available online that meet the mandatory insurance criteria.
Safety is our top priority. We are closely monitoring the political and security situation in real time and are in constant communication with local authorities and security experts. REALITY and itrek take great pride in their cautious and responsible approach, with a reputation built on hosting more than 28,000 participants on Journeys to Israel in the past fifteen years, including 25 groups in 2024.
We are in regular contact with Israel’s ‘Situation Monitoring Room,’ which works closely with Israel’s security forces including the IDF, Israel Police, and local security and reservation authorities.
REALITY Alumni. Applications can be submitted individually or as part of a team.
Funds will be reimbursed only to the account of the REALITY Alum who submitted the Microgrant application. If the application was submitted as part of a team, the reimbursement will be issued to the account of the primary applicant, unless otherwise agreed upon in advance.
You have 3-6 months from the project approval date to start using your grant funding, but you must use the funds by September 1st. Extensions may be discussed if needed.
Review Process: Applications are evaluated based on project goals, intended impact, alignment with at least one of the Microgrant program goals, and adherence to REALITY’s values. Applicants will be notified of the decision within 3 weeks.
Please refer to the attached one-pager, which contains all the details about our upcoming REALITY Journeys. This document provides comprehensive information about each Journey.
Browse the photo gallery for highlights from previous Israel Treks.
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