James Kirsch was one of the first generation analysts who had his primary analysis with Jung. As a young man in his 20s he began a psychoanalysis which did not satisfy him and so he entered a Jungian analysis in Berlin. In 1928 he wrote to Jung asking if he could begin analysis with him, and in 1929 James Kirsch spent two months in Zürich in analysis with both Jung and Toni Wolff. This began a multiple level relationship which spanned four decades and great distances. There are approximately 150 back and forth letters in this correspondence with Jung.
The contents of the letters cover important subjects such as the relationship between Jews and Christians, Nazi-ism, anti-Semitism, clinical issues in psychotherapy, synchronicity, organizational issues in building up Jungian organizations, and difficult personalities. James Kirsch was a founding member of Jungian professional groups in Berlin, Tel Aviv, London, and Los Angeles.