Israel Psychoanalytic Society

The Israel Psychoanalytic Society is the national professional organization representing psychoanalysis in Israel. It was founded in November 1933 by Max Eitingon and other psychoanalysts under the name Palestine Psychoanalytic Society. Eitingon, a prominent psychoanalyst associated with the early institutional development of psychoanalysis in Berlin, helped shape the new society in the context of Jewish psychoanalysts' migration to Mandatory Palestine during the period of Nazi persecution in Europe. The organization was modeled in part on the Berlin Psychoanalytic Polyclinic, which Eitingon had also helped establish. During its early years, psychoanalytic activity developed in several urban centers. Separate groups emerged in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem, reflecting the geographical distribution of practitioners and patients in Palestine. The society's early membership included a substantial number of Russian Jewish founders and émigré analysts from European psychoanalytic circles. In 1934, Martin Pappenheim, a physician and associate member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, arrived in Palestine after fleeing the Nazis and became part of the developing psychoanalytic community. Eitingon served as the society's first president from its foundation in 1933 until his death in 1943. Moshe Wulff then assumed the presidency and led the organization until 1953. Erich Gumbel subsequently served as president during the mid-1950s and again briefly in the late 1970s. The society's institutional life unfolded across a multilingual environment. German was initially its official language, while clinical work could require analysts and patients to communicate across two languages. Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the organization changed its name from the Palestine Psychoanalytic Society to the Israel Psychoanalytic Society. This change reflected the new political and national setting in which the society operated. After Wulff left the presidency in 1953, the organization was led for approximately two decades by Heinrich Winnik, according to the society's historical account summarized in reference material. The society is affiliated with the International Psychoanalytic Association and functions as a professional and institutional home for psychoanalytic work in Israel. Its activities are associated with psychoanalytic training, professional membership, clinical practice, and the continuation of psychoanalytic scholarship and education. The available historical material does not provide a complete account of its current membership, governance, programs, or financial structure. A membership record from July 1975 reported 30 full members and 11 associate members, illustrating the comparatively small scale of the organized psychoanalytic community at that time.

The Israel Psychoanalytic Society originated in November 1933 as the Palestine Psychoanalytic Society. Its creation was led by Max Eitingon together with other psychoanalysts working in or relocating to Mandatory Palestine. Eitingon's institutional experience in Berlin influenced the society's early structure, particularly through the example of the Berlin Psychoanalytic Polyclinic. The foundation of the society occurred during a period when European Jewish psychoanalysts faced increasing political persecution and displacement. The society's early development was decentralized. Psychoanalytic groups formed in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem, creating a network across the principal urban centers of Palestine. In 1934, Martin Pappenheim, a physician and associate member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, arrived after fleeing the Nazi regime. The founding community included many Russian Jewish psychoanalysts, while other members brought experience from Central European psychoanalytic institutions. Max Eitingon served as the society's president from 1933 until his death in 1943. Moshe Wulff succeeded him and remained president until 1953. Erich Gumbel held the presidency from 1953 to 1957 and later returned to the role for 1977–1978. Rafael Moses served from 1975 to 1977. After Wulff's departure from the presidency, Heinrich Winnik led the society for approximately twenty years, according to the historical account available in the reference material. The organization initially operated in a multilingual environment. German was its official language during its early period, and clinical analyses could involve two languages when analyst and patient did not share a first language. This linguistic feature reflected the immigrant and internationally connected character of the early psychoanalytic community. In 1948, following the establishment of the State of Israel, the society adopted its current name, Israel Psychoanalytic Society. The renaming marked the transition from the institutional framework of Mandatory Palestine to that of the newly established state. The society later became a constituent member of the International Psychoanalytic Association, linking Israeli psychoanalysis to the international professional organization. A historical membership figure records that in July 1975 the society had 30 full members and 11 associate members. The available sources do not establish a complete chronology of later presidents, current membership, training institutes, or specific public programs. Its present website indicates that the organization continues to operate as a professional psychoanalytic body in Israel.

• 1975

  Recorded membership

  [1]Israel Psychoanalytic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society was reported to have 30 full members and 11 associate members in July 1975.

• 1948

  Renaming as the Israel Psychoanalytic Society

  [1]Israel Psychoanalytic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Palestine Psychoanalytic Society adopted the name Israel Psychoanalytic Society after the establishment of the State of Israel.

• 1934

  Arrival of Martin Pappenheim

  [1]Israel Psychoanalytic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Martin Pappenheim, a physician and associate member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, joined the developing psychoanalytic community after fleeing Nazi persecution.

• 1933

  Foundation as the Palestine Psychoanalytic Society

  [1]Israel Psychoanalytic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Max Eitingon and other psychoanalysts established the organization in November 1933 in Mandatory Palestine.

A national professional society dedicated to psychoanalytic practice, training, and institutional representation in Israel.

• Professional education

  Psychoanalytic training

  The society's institutional role includes the professional development and training of psychoanalysts in Israel. The available sources identify this as part of its professional function but do not provide a detailed description of current curricula, admission requirements, or training locations.

• Mental-health services · 1933

  Psychoanalytic clinical practice

  The society represents a community engaged in psychoanalytic clinical work. Historical material notes that early analyses could be conducted in more than one language, reflecting the multilingual background of practitioners and patients.

• Professional association · 1933

  Professional membership

  Membership provides an institutional framework for psychoanalysts and associates connected with the Israeli psychoanalytic community. A 1975 historical record distinguished between full and associate members.

1. 1Israel Psychoanalytic Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Israel Psychoanalytic Society official websitepsychoanalysis.org.il