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Two Hebrew works published in Cairo under the auspices of the Agudat Rabbanum of the Sephardim and of the Ashkenazim in Egypt, both compiled by R. Aaron Menahem Mendel Behrn ha-Kohn. The first title is Kenesset Yisrael, from the aggudat ha-rabbunim ha-Haredim to strengthen the faith. It includes writings from rabbis over the generations and was published monthly by R. Behrn, av bet din of the Ashkenazim in Cairo, originally from Tiberius. The book begins with a list of 300 rabbis, both Ashkenazim and Sephardim, from whom R. Behrn has assembled this work The second title is Sefer ha-agudah in the name of the Agudat ha-Rabbanim ha-Kellalei and in it are the sidrei ha-aggudah (the enactments) the names of the havarim. It is further described as being from the Rabbanei Artzot ha-Mizrah by the Histradrut, compiled by R. Aaron Menahem Mendel Behrn ha-Kohen. There is a introduction from R. Behrn, and the Kol Kore.
Apart from the intrinsic value of these works, Hebrew books from Cairo are few in number and rare. The first Hebrew printing press in Cairo, which was also the first one in the whole Middle East outside of Palestine, was founded in 1657 by Gershom ben Eliezer Soncino . He was the last printer of a famous family of printers; he had previously worked in his father's press in Constantinople. Two of his books printed in this year are known: Refu'ot ha-Talmud, a book of remedies, and Pitron Ḥalomot ("Interpretation of Dreams"), attributed to R. Hai Gaon . A second printing press was founded in Cairo in 1740 by Abraham b. Moses Yatom, who had also previously worked as a printer in Constantinople. He printed only one book, the first edition of Ḥok le-Yisrael, edited by R. Isaac Baruch of Cairo. This work was later reprinted in many editions. The renewal of Hebrew printing in Cairo took place in 1905, and after that year there were five Hebrew printing presses. They were principally used for commercial purposes, with the printing of books as a secondary activity. Up to World War II, they printed over 50 books, most of which served the needs of the Egyptian communities or were the works of authors living in Egypt.
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