Harold Israel and his family (wife Holly and children Mitchell and Marni) joined Temple Beth-El in 2001. Harold joined the Board of Directors in 2003 and the Executive Committee in 2004 as Financial Vice-President. He served in this role for three years before becoming Treasurer. Most recently, Harold was Chairman of the Board during the 2009-10 year before becoming President on July 1, 2010.

Harold has also served on many Temple committees, including the Membership Committee, the Finance Committee, the Budget Committee, an Executive Director search committee, a Nominating Committee and the committee that explored, and ultimately led to, the reaffiliation with the Union For Reform Judaism.

Harold grew up in Suburban Detroit where he belonged to Temple Beth-El in Birmingham, Michigan. Harold was an officer of his Temple Youth Group, served as the youth group representative on the temple's Board of Trustees and was active in the Michigan chapter of NFTY. Harold also served a four year term on the Jewish United Fund/ Jewish Federation of Metropolitan of Chicago's Young Leadership board as well as on numerous JUF Committees. During the day, Harold is an attorney at Kaye Scholer LLP.