The document describes the historical background of the Israel Medical Association since its foundation.

On January 11, 1912, with only 32 Jewish physicians in the Land of Israel at the time, a decision was reached at a meeting held at the home of Dr. Krinkin (in Tel Aviv) to establish The Hebrew Medicinal Society for Jaffa and the Jaffa District, whose members would be physicians, veterinarians and provisors (certified pharmacists).
The participants at the gathering, considered to be the Society founders, were: Dr. Pohovsky, Dr. Yunis-Gutman, Dr. Krinkin, Dr. Stein and Dr. Sherman. The were joined by Dr. Belkind, Dr. Cohen from Petah Tikva, Dr. Weitzbrad from Rishon LeZion and Dr. Moskowitz from Rehovot.
The gathering decided on membership fees and conducted secret ballot elections to executive positions. Dr. Pohovsky was elected Chairperson, Dr. Krinkin - vice chairperson, and Dr. Sherman was elected Secretary of the new Society.
Although the majority of physicians in the Land of Israel at the time did not speak Hebrew, it was decided to publish a quarterly in Hebrew titled Minutes of the Hebrew Medicinal Society in the Land of Israel. Dr. Moshe Sherman, the Association Secretary, was appointed editor, by virtue of his proficiency in Hebrew and the fact that he was the son of a publisher and print shop owner.

In 1913the Jewish physicians residing in Jerusalem established The Hebrew-Speaking Physicians’ Society. Its founders were the new immigrants Dr. Arye Behem, Dr. Zeev Breene, Dr. Arye Goldberg, Dr. Arye Feigenbaum, Dr. A. Shimoni-Mekler and Dr. Miriam Nofach. The main issue on the agenda was whether the Hebrew physicians should differentiate themselves from the general physician population. Ultimately a compromised was reached according to which the Society would operate under the name The Hebrew-Speaking Physicians’ Society and its membership would also be open to Hebrew-speaking physicians who did not reside in Israel.

In 1914 the number of Jewish physicians in Israel reached 60. Both organizations of Hebrew physicians, from Jaffa and from Jerusalem, agreed to cooperate between them.

During World War I: The Hebrew-Speaking Physicians’ Society cared for the health of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and in cooperation with the municipal health bureau and the Pasteur Institute battled malaria, trachoma, smallpox, typhoid and cholera. Among its important activities was the organization of medical assistance to the poor of Jerusalem. This important enterprise was headed by Dr. Behem. At the outset of the War publication of the newsletter of the Medicinal Society of Jaffa was halted.

After the War: the two Societies merged under the name The Hebrew Medical Association in the Land of Israel (HMA). Contrary to medical associations in Europe, some of which had only professional or scientific goals, The Association planned to operate in three areas:

• Professional continuing education.