Today, in the third millennium, Kfar Masaryk is a large and prosperous kibbutz. The fourth generation plays on its lawns and in the shade of its trees, as if this tranquil setting has always existed. In their eyes, all the lush trees and the gardens surrounding them occur naturally and not as the result of hard work by their great grandparents, grandparents and parents. However, reality was different. It all began in the thirties of the last century. In 1932, a small group of new olim, members of Hashomer Hatzair from Lithuania, settled in Petach Tikva but dreamed of a kibbutz of their own. They faced one major problem – the young women outnumbered the young men. Due to this unbalanced distribution, the Movement took a courageous and innovative step. Another group, originally from Czechoslovakia, whose problem was just the opposite, was integrated with the former. Despite their different origins and cultural backgrounds, the two groups decided to join together and a new kibbutz was born. In February 1933, they proclaimed the founding of “Kibbutz Czecho-Lita”, which was their temporary name. They moved to Bat Galim in downtown Haifa and a new era began. The new immigrants coming to the Land of Israel at this time, had developed new ideological concepts to reclaim their ancient land: Jewish labor, Conquering the port of Haifa, Construction team, The reclaiming of Mount Carmel. These were some of the principles that drove the young Kibbutz members during those turbulent times. Kibbutz Czecho-Lita was small, consisting only of tents, but was bustling with activity. However, it was too confining of an area to contain the young pioneers’ creative enthusiasm and their desire for new developments and more land. In 1934, the group moved to the sand dunes of western Kiriyat Hayim. In these new surroundings, their first sons and daughters filled the children’s houses. In agriculture, a vegetable garden was initiated and dairy farming was introduced. At this point, the Kibbutz adopted its second name – Mishmar Zebulun (the Guardian of the Zebulun Valley). New enterprises came into being – The Joint Bakery, Giza Enterprise, Poara Cleaning, Askar, Hanotrim, Hakav. At that time, a new concept was fashioned: political deviations. Also planting its roots in the sand dunes of Kiriyat Haim was another young Kibbutz – Ein Hamifratz. This close proximity to one another set the stage for a dramatic and passionate saga that continues until today. As neighbors the two Kibbutzim have developed a close relationship that is based on friendship, mutual trust and cooperation but at times reminiscent of a soap opera. In 1937, another group, Hayotzer, joined the Kibbutz. These young immigrants from Poland came to help bear the burdens of a young, developing kibbutz. They participated in construction, defense and a variety of other jobs. Members of Hayotzer brought with them new blood, new ideas and added a bit of a Polish flavor to the Kibbutz. One year later, a new enterprise was started. A few kilometers south of Akko, the Naaman factory was established, producing red bricks that literally implemented the Zionist vision – the essential building blocks for building the Land of Israel. This new factory was vulnerable and unprotected and needed people to guard it. It was decided that members of Kfar Masaryk would defend and guard the factory. This also served as a reason to move the Kibbutz from Kiriyat Hayim to a place with more land for a growing kibbutz and into close proximity to the factory. A new chapter in the history of the Kibbutz started when on November 29, 1938, the new settlement was founded – the 28th settlement in the series of Tower and Stockade settlements. Thus, the first roots were planted in the Akko Valley. The Jewish Agency and the Settlement institutions vehemently opposed the idea of founding a kibbutz in the Akko area; reasoning that the sandy soil would never bear fruit and the only water in the area was from salty swamps, causing malaria and other diseases. Human beings would never survive and no settlement could ever develop in such a place. The members of the collective did not give up despite all their difficulties – including hostile acts by neighboring Arabs. They persisted and turned dream into reality. With their first tractor – the mythological Allis Chalmers, they ploughed the first furrow in the marshy soil. The time for a permanent and final settlement came in 1940. Kibbutz Mishmar Zebulun moved to its present location, still close enough to the Naaman factory to guard it but on the east side of the Haifa-Akko road. A new name was needed. In order to honor the memory of the late president of the Czechoslovak Republic, T. G. Masaryk, the name Kfar Masaryk was chosen. In the course of the following three years, the Kibbutz took major steps in establishing itself in the valley: drying out of the swamps, controlling malaria, the Ein Affiya project, desalting the Abu Hashish soil, the first bridge over the Naaman creek, the first crops (to become later a real commercial enterprise), and fishponds. In industry, in addition to the Naaman brick factory, Askar began producing asphalt and paint. While members of Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk volunteered to serve the Palmach Unit, the Holocaust was casting its black shadow over Europe and World War Two was raging in Europe. At the end of the Kibbutz’s first decade, its population consisted of 126 members and 53 children.