May 17, 2010

Please find enclosed your HBT Renewal Project Information Package

Dear Friends, I think it’s fair to say our Temple Renewal Project has come a great distance over these last few years. There have been three discrete conceptual designs presented to you, each one building on the learning and feedback of the last. We were challenged by a financial downturn that threatened the entire undertaking, weathered it, and emerged with a stronger, more defined fundraising plan that is working (more on that in a moment). And we have improved our property footprint (and thus, our design flexibility) with the purchase of 84 Ava Rd. However, the reasons for undertaking Renewal have always remained the same: to secure our great congregation’s future at 1950 Bathurst Street, and in so doing, build a campus that strengthens our sense of who we are as a Jewish community. A synagogue that provides us a place to worship, to learn, and to spend time and celebrate with our friends and family in an updated physical environment that better promotes these goals. Put simply, this is OUR SYNAGOGUE, OUR HOME. It’s for all of us today– and it’s for our children and grandchildren to thrive in, as a congregation, for many decades to come. From 1938 to 2010 to 2080. So now, we reach an historic moment for Holy Blossom, akin to the decision our congregation made in 1938 when they envisioned a bold new future and moved our synagogue from Bond Street to Bathurst Street. We are asking you to vote to approve the Financial Plan for Renewal, which is contained in this package, and to authorize the Board to proceed with construction, once an important condition is met (described below). Your Temple Board has voted unanimously to approve this plan and recommends that our members vote in favour of the enclosed resolution. This vote will take place at a special Meeting of the members of the congregation, Sunday June 13th at 7:30 pm, in the Philip Smith Congregational Hall. For those who cannot attend the meeting, we encourage you to vote in advance with the enclosed proxy. This is not the project of a select few. Nor is it the project of a few highly committed donors. This is a project for ALL of us. So we hope for nothing less than 100% participation of our members in this historic vote, and in the planning and fundraising activities that will follow a successful result. Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But again, this decision is ours to make. That we make it together, as a community, united in our desire for a renewed Holy Blossom, is the strongest possible outcome. Again, if you can’t be there on June 13th, please do take the time to fill out your proxy and either mail, fax or drop it off at Temple. An Important Condition. We are aiming to begin construction in the late fall of 2011. But there is one condition, reflected in the enclosed resolution, that I would like to highlight here, because I believe it underscores the diligence and prudence that has informed our process: that we must raise 85% of the Temple’s share of the projected total cost of the project, as updated periodically, before construction can begin. This 85% threshold is consistent with best practices in the not-for-profit fundraising world. In real terms, this means, that $23.2 million of our projected total cost of $27.3 million must actually be in place in order for construction to commence. An ambitious goal to be sure, but we are a community of some 2000 families and

more than 5000 individuals – collectively, there is no doubt that we have the ability to finish the job and raise the additional funds we require. And, there is good news on the fundraising front … The Latest on Fundraising and Financing. We have now raised over $16 million toward our total cost of $27.3 million. This is almost $700,000 more than the amount that is published in the enclosed Financial Plan. It’s excellent progress and it indicates we have a design that has unified our community – a plan that people want to support. And it leaves us feeling optimistic about meeting our objective of $23.2 million in time to start construction in November 2011. We are still working hard on the Leadership Gifts portion of our fundraising and, in time, will be transitioning to the broader congregational campaign. However, you need not wait to be contacted. If you’re ready to make your donation now, please be in touch with Les Shernofsky in the Foundation Office at 416-789-3291, ext. 260, or at lshernofsky@holyblossom.org. With regard to project financing, as reported in my last letter, we continue to move forward with some very positive discussions with potential Bank partners, who will provide the financing described in the enclosed Financial Plan. Our Partner in the Project. The Leo Baeck Day School has shared in, and contributed greatly, to this vision of Renewal since day one. That we have our next generation of Temple members on campus, all day long, engaged in Jewish learning, experiencing our Shul as their second home, is a rare and beautiful privilege. Please refer to the Financial Plan for the economics of this arrangement, but please know that both parties believe we have more than simply a fair and equitable agreement – in the words of Leo Baeck’s own Renewal communication materials, we believe we have “The Perfect Fit.” Our Neighbours and The Municipal Approval Process. We have received constructive feedback from our neighbours through a series of meetings over the last two years or so. Most of this has had to do with traffic and parking concerns, and we have been working with our consultants to address these comments. At this stage, our re-zoning application is slated to go before Toronto and East York Community Council on June 22nd. And then, hopefully, our bylaw will be enacted by City Council, 2 weeks later. What’s in This Package? No doubt you’ve already realized there’s a lot to look at in this mailing. We want you to have all the information you need to make a fully informed decision. • There are floor plan drawings as well as various architectural renderings to give you as complete a sense as possible of what our new Holy Blossom will look, and even more importantly, feel like. Our new design is highlighted by a bright Central Atrium where we will gather and not only connect with one another, but also connect to all aspects of our campus. There’s a brand new Family Chapel off the Atrium, on the main floor. A wholly re-imagined Congregational Hall, just down the stairs, converts quickly from a public gathering space for lectures or musical performances, to a gorgeous social hall for our family simchas. The expanded school wing houses The Leo Baeck Day School, and our own Religious School and Nursery School, and provides all of the facilities and space for optimum learning, both Jewish and secular. And finally, our Sanctuary will be fully restored to its former splendour, with new lighting, sound, paint, ceiling work and other long-desired restoration and repair. Some of this has already taken place thanks to your generous contributions to our Rose Window Project. I also want to remind you that, according to this plan, the Sanctuary will remain open for much of the construction period, until we are fully back on site in time for the 2013 High Holidays. • There is the Renewal Project Financial Plan prepared by Earl Lipson, chair of the Renewal

Project Finance and Control Committee, and the Report from the Financial Oversight Committee, chaired by Harley Mintz. The Financial Oversight Committee has been engaged for the last 8 months in reviewing the details of the Financial Plan. Both documents are testaments to the prudence and due diligence behind this Renewal Project. Please read them thoroughly. • There is the formal Notice of Meeting of Members on Sunday June 13th at 7:30pm. This notice sets out the form of Resolution that you are being asked to consider. • And finally, there is the Form of Proxy so you can vote on that Resolution. Please know that, subject to achieving the 85% fundraising threshold, the Board will be authorized to proceed with construction if a majority of the votes cast are in favour of the Resolution. Please also be assured that your vote will remain confidential. To ensure a smooth voting process, the Board has asked Bill Rosenfeld, chair of the Temple’s Governance Committee, to act as Scrutineer. Another Chance to Meet Prior to the Vote. We will be having one more Congregational Gathering to discuss our Renewal Project, prior to the vote. If you have any questions that arise from your review of this package, please join us on Tuesday, June 1 at 7:30 pm in The Philip Smith. Of course, if you have questions at any time please call me at the Temple, or send an email to renewal@holyblossom.org and either I, or another member of the renewal team, will get back to you promptly. The Last Word. I want to thank all those hundreds of volunteers who have so involved themselves in all aspects of our Renewal Project, as well as those who have generously contributed the Leadership Gifts that have propelled and sustained us thus far. As I said before, this is OUR project and your selfless commitment reflects that fact. And, as our new Holy Blossom moves closer and closer to becoming a reality, I remind all our congregants that this is our once-in-many-generations opportunity – in fact, our responsibility – to renew and rebuild our synagogue together. Whether you contribute your money, your time, your passion or, ideally, all of the above – it is my hope that, for us, for future generations and as a signal to the Jewish world – we all act as the community we are, to make Renewal happen. Sincerely,

Larry Babins