Michelle Herzog

Michal Herzog (née Afek; born 15 May 1962 ) is an Israeli lawyer who has served as First Lady of Israel since 2021 as the wife of President Isaac Herzog.

Early life Michal Afek was born in Kibbutz Ein Harod. Her parents were Zvia (née Brin), a teacher from Afula and Shaul Afek, a member of the Palmach and Colonel in the Israeli Defence Forces. Michal Afek grew up in Tel Aviv and in the Neve Rom neighborhood in Ramat Hasharon and lived in Brazil for a period. Her paternal cousin is Chief Military Advocate General, Sharon Afek. During her time in the IDF, Afek served in the Intelligence Corps, where she met her future husband, Isaac Herzog, and they married in August 1985. They have three sons: Noam, Matan, and Roy, and live in the Tzahala neighborhood in Tel Aviv.

Career In 1986, Michal Herzog graduated from law school at Tel Aviv University and in 1988 received a license from the Israel Bar Association. She was hired by the law firm of Uri Slonim and has represented, among others, namely a bank robber Ronnie "Ofnobank" Leibowitz; head of the Shin Bet security branch, Dror Yitzhaki, before the establishment of the Shamgar Commission after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin; and Bank Leumi in 1993 following the 1983 Israel bank stock crisis.

Herzog has served on the board of directors of Ma'aleh, an organization that works to promote corporate responsibility issues and for the development of responsible management standards in Israel. She served as a director of Polar Investments and an external director of Friedenson Logistics Services.

First Lady of Israel In 2021, her husband was elected president of Israel, making her the First Lady of Israel.

Herzog has also consistently called out the rise of global antisemitism since October 7th.

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