Yael Kenan was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel, and continues to live and study in Jerusalem. She graduated from René Cassin High School in 2004 and received a city-wide certificate for honor students from the Jerusalem municipality. She completed a two year mandatory military service as a producer and editor in the Israeli Defense Forces Radio. Yael is currently a second year student in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in the "Amirim" program for honor students in the Humanities, and in the department of comparative literature. Yael was on the Humanities Dean's List after her first year of studies, and is a member of the editorial board of the "Amirim" journal, "Amirot". Yael enjoys reading, writing, film and photography.