It was founded in November 1933 by Max Eitingon and many other psychoanalysts, but was originally named Palestine Psychoanalytic Society.
In 1934, Martin Pappenheim [de], a physician and associate member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, fled the Nazis in Palestine.
Three psychoanalytic groups were formed separately in the major cities of Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem.
Among those living in Israel is the Vienna psychoanalyst Bertha Grünspan, a training analyst for the community.
[3] The majority of the founders of the Israel Psychoanalytic Society are Russian Jews.