The initiative also calls for a $7.5 million revitalization of the downtown Bloor JCC as well as of the Bathurst Jewish Centre.

Community planners characterize the project as visionary, costly and necessary if they are to cope with the community's strong anticipated growth.

"Jewish Toronto Tomorrow involves the largest development program in the history of our Jewish community," said UJA Federation spokesman Howard English.

The Jewish community of Greater Toronto has practically doubled in size over the last quarter century to become the predominant Jewish community of Canada and one of the 10 largest in North America.

There are about 380,000 Jews in Canada, with roughly half –180,000 to 200,000 — living in Toronto.