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.

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.

[2][3] They have three sons: Noam, Matan, and Roy, and live in the Tzahala neighborhood in Tel Aviv.

[4] In 1986, Michal Herzog graduated from law school at Tel Aviv University and in 1988 received a license from the Israel Bar Association.