Rosh Hashanah celebrated ‘round’ the world

Pam Schiff
Posted 9/25/14

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins Wednesday, Sept. 24 at sunset. The holiday marks the New Year of 5775.

All around the world, Jews will attend temple services to commemorate the …

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Rosh Hashanah celebrated ‘round’ the world

Posted

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins Wednesday, Sept. 24 at sunset. The holiday marks the New Year of 5775.

All around the world, Jews will attend temple services to commemorate the celebration.

As with most Jewish holidays, there is a strong focus on certain foods connected to the celebration.

Traditionally, for the New Year it is apples, honey and challah. For this holiday, the traditional braided challah is swapped for a round one. The round shape symbolizes the cycle of life and beginning of the new year.

Rainbow Bakery has been making round challahs for 60 years in Cranston. This year, owners Murray and Debbie Kaplan baked close to 5,000 breads for sale inside the bakery and for wholesale distribution.

That comes to 300,000 in a 60-year span.

In the longstanding debate of traditional plain challah versus raisin, plain is the clear winner.

“It is probably a three-to-one ratio. People like the traditional,” Debbie Kaplan said.

Rainbow also uses approximately 10 boxes – weighing 30 pounds each – of raisins per year.

Their wholesale client list is long, including local markets such as Dave’s, Eastside Market and the Food Chalet.

Longtime customer Bill Hoffman was lucky enough to get one of the few non-preordered challah available on the shelf.

“I’ve been coming here for 30 years. They’re the only show in town. Even if I bought it somewhere else, I know it was made here,” he said.

“I have been doing this a long time,” said Murray Kaplan. “My father, my grandfather, dough is in my blood. I have such wonderful memories of my family and customers. I am truly blessed and grateful to be able to serve the community for as long as we have.”

Rainbow Bakery is located at 800 Reservoir Ave. in Cranston.

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