She married Isaac Herzog three decades ago. They have three lovely children, Noam, Matan, and Roee. Israel’s First Lady, Michal Afek Herzog, spent part of her childhood in Brazil, as during the 1970s, her father Shaul worked as the Israeli military attaché in Latin America. Her time in Brazil was a "wonderful experience" - she says - where she grew up learning a new culture and, in some cases, watched educational programming like Sesame Street in Portuguese. She attended an international school in São Paulo, later completed high school in Canada, and earned a degree from Tel Aviv University's Law Faculty. She is a lawyer who specializes in criminal law.
It's not easy being the wife of the "president of the Jews of the whole world"—a self-definition Isaac imposes on himself—because there's a constant need to know what they need, to be informed of events in real time, and to help them from Israel. Michal doesn't passively watch the challenges faced by her husband. Your voice is fundamental in decision-making, whether in Israel or abroad.
Israel’s First Lady has become a prominent voice in the defense of world Jewry, specifically focusing on the intersection of humanitarian advocacy and combating antisemitism. Her efforts often center on bridging the gap between Israeli experiences and the broader Jewish Diaspora during times of crisis. Israel has resources that communities alone do not have, and it acts based on the reciprocity promised in the Declaration of Independence.
In March, Michal delivered a candid conversation on leadership, resilience, and the evolving role of women in Israeli society at the Jerusalem Post Women Leaders Summit 2026. She voiced concern over what she described as a regression in female representation at the highest levels of decision-making. “We see less women in the public arena, especially around decision-making tables,” she said. “When you see a table with only men making the decisions for all of us, that really bothers me.” At the same time, she emphasized the proven impact of women’s leadership.
Addressing her international advocacy, Michal concluded with a call to action: “When a woman uses her voice, she can change. I made space for myself, and had the privilege of choosing the agendas that I would lead.”
