2017 -- H 6254

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING RAINBOW BAKERY ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 100TH

ANNIVERSARY

     Introduced By: Representatives Jacquard, Lima, Lancia, Handy, and Mattiello

     Date Introduced: May 25, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Founded by Abraham Kaplan in 1917, on what was then named Black

Street, Kaplan's Bakery began what would become, 100 years later, the last Jewish Bakery in our

state; and

     WHEREAS, Years after opening its doors, the bakery relocated to the corner of Prairie

Avenue and Bogman Street, and in 1954, Barney Kaplan, Abraham's son, moved the bakery to

Reservoir Avenue in Cranston; and

     WHEREAS, Barney then purchased land up the street at 800 Reservoir Avenue with the

intention of building a new home for the bakery. Sadly, in 1964, six weeks before the newly built

bakery was set to open its doors, Barney passed away, leaving his wife, Leah, and two teenage

sons, Murray and Daniel, to run the business; and

     WHEREAS, Upon the passing of his father, Murray Kaplan began working in the bakery

early in the morning and then returning to work again after school. He soon learned the art and

quickly became quite skilled at cake decorating, and in 1976, he created a stunning replica of the

State House for the state's Bicentennial Celebration; and

     WHEREAS, Today, Rainbow Bakery sells traditional Jewish breads like sissel and

challah as well as Italian and multigrain breads. They also make hamentashen and rugelach

pastries, and cakes, muffins and Danish, which they sell at the bakery and also to supermarkets,

bakeries, hotels, delis, gourmet stores and restaurants; and

     WHEREAS, Murray and Deborah, better known as "Deby" by family and the many

customers of the bakery, are the third generation of Kaplans to own and run the business, and

though their children Scott, Melissa, and Annie will not be continuing in their parents footsteps,

they have spent many hours at the bakery and have created a website for the business; and

     WHEREAS, The economic vitality of our state depends and relies on the strength of

businesses such as Rainbow Bakery and it is eminently fitting to commemorate this monumental

anniversary; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors, thanks and congratulates the Kaplan Family for 100 years

of scrumptiously delighting our palates. We furthermore wish Rainbow Bakery many more years

of success; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Murray and Deby Kaplan.

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