Israel’s First Lady, Michal Herzog, delivered a candid conversation on leadership, resilience, and the evolving role of women in Israeli society שt the Jerusalem Post Women Leaders Summit 2026. Speaking with Jerusalem Post reporter Shanna Fuld, Herzog opened on a somber note, arriving directly from the scene of a missile strike in Tel Aviv earlier that morning. “It was very moving to see that life goes on,” she said. “Israelis are very resilient, but they obey the orders, and that’s what saves lives.”
Reflecting on her position, Herzog described the role of First Lady as inherently undefined, noting that the absence of a recent predecessor created both a challenge and an opportunity. “I made space for myself, and had the privilege of choosing the agendas that I would lead.” A central focus of her tenure has been mental health, an issue she embraced during the COVID-19 period. “If your soul hurts, you should be able to ask for help,” she said, stressing the importance of breaking the stigma. In the aftermath of October 7, she added, the issue has become even more urgent: “The whole conversation about trauma will be with us for years to come.”
Herzog also 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 bothered me.” At the same time, she emphasized the proven impact of women’s leadership. “Women do know how to work together wherever there were women, there were success stories,” she said, pointing to examples across municipalities, healthcare, and emergency services.
Addressing her international advocacy, Herzog highlighted her efforts to raise awareness of sexual violence in conflict. “I speak not only on behalf of Israeli women, but on behalf of women period,” she said. She concluded with a call to action: “When a woman uses her voice, she can change; we also have to use our voice whenever we can.”