a ninth generation israeli, liel was born in tel aviv and immigrated to the united states in 1999. he is a graduate of the columbia university school of journalism, a lieutenant (res.) in the israeli army, and the culture editor for the jewish week. he is currently completing his doctoral dissertation in communications at columbia, focusing on the ontology of video games. his first book, "aliya: three generations of american-jewish immigration to israel," was published by st. martin's press in 2006. he lives in new york city with his wife, lisa ann sandell, and their puppy, molly dog leibovitz.