Pope Shlomo I

Yum. Tastes like humas.

Extreme makeover for the Pope? Did Benedict grow a beard, and change his robes when no one was looking? Well, no. The man having his ring kissed is Shlomo Amar, Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, who is in the news this week for announcing that he will recognize the divorce decrees and conversions to Judaism of just 50 Orthodox rabbis.

"The impression is that Amar is trying to become a sort of Jewish pope," an official of the RCA told Haaretz this week.

Who are the fabulous 50? Unclear, but a spokesman for the Chief Rabbinate confirmed that "Your Local Orthodox Rabbi isn't included." It is not clear is how the 50 were chosen, nor is it known what it might cost a rabbi to have his name added to the list.

Also denied was a report that Amar's ruling came about because he was mad that "not one Ashkenazic Rabbi in the world is willing to eat in his house on Pesach."

Update: Krum had it first