News at a Glance

Ronn Torossian

NEW YORK (JTA) -- The public-relations firm representing Agriprocessors is facing claims that it impersonated online a leading critic of the company.

An online commenter purporting to be Rabbi Morris Allen, the head of the Conservative movement's ethical kashrut initiative Hekhsher Tzedek, posted two comments to the blog FailedMessiah, which is operated by Shmarya Rosenberg.

Allen and Rosenberg are frequent critics of Agriprocessors, the largest kosher-meat producer in the United States, which was the target of a massive federal immigration raid on May 12.

Rosenberg reported that the two fake comments were posted last week from an Internet address linked to 5WPR, the public- relations firm representing Agriprocessors.

The comments portrayed Allen as being motivated by a desire to promote the interests of Hekhsher Tzedek and the Conservative movement, rather than finding out the truth about Agriprocessors and seeing that the company make improvements.

Allen said that he did not leave any of the comments and may pursue legal action against the firm.

Ronn Torossian, 5WPR's president and CEO, replied that the company was investigating and had no comment.

Michael Siegel, a Chicago rabbi and the national co-chair of Hekhsher Tzedek, said that he's sought legal advice.

"This is just a terrible statement on so many levels that we've come to something like this in the Jewish community," he said. "I don't know how much lower we can go in this whole thing."

Ob-Gyn Gets His 15 Minutes of Fame

NEW YORK (JTA) -- A Jewish obstetrician from France delivered Angelina Jolie's twins.

Dr. Michel Sussmann, a former vice president of the Nice Jewish community whose daughter lives in Israel, basked in the media spotlight after he delivered the world's two most widely anticipated newborns, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, the children of actors Jolie and Brad Pitt, on July 12.

"The delivery was very emotional and exceptional, as Ms. Jolie is a superstar, but I think that it happened on Shabbat made it that much more moving," said Sussmann.

"We had an excellent rapport," he said of Jolie. "She is so, so nice, and never complained about anything. There are negative things sometimes written about her on the Internet, but don't believe them."

Israel Starts 24-Hour Tourism Helpline

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Tourists in Israel can now turn to a free, round-the-clock emergency telephone helpline.

The Tourism Ministry on Sunday launched "Tourphone," a hotline operating 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and reachable by dialing *3888 from any phone in Israel.

Through the new service, tourists can receive answers to questions regarding entry and exit regulations at border crossings, assistance in emergencies and visa information.

English- and French-speakers are available.

Mass Conversion in Uganda Ceremony

NEW YORK (JTA) -- More than 250 Africans converted to Judaism in Uganda this month.

The conversions were supervised by Gershom Sizomu, Africa's first native-born black rabbi, and other Conservative rabbis from the United States, who saw each potential convert as part of a Bet Din.

A ceremony in the Abayudaya village of Nabogoye included converts from Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.

Said Sizomu: "It is important that Africans and others know that they can choose Judaism as a spiritual path, and that we are open to them."