| 5625 (1865) | Born on the 16th of Elul, 5625 (Sep. 7, 1865) in Greive (now Griva), a suburb of Dvinsk in Latvia. |
|---|---|
| 5645 (1884) |
At age 18, he studied for a year and a half at the famed Volozhin yeshiva. The head of the Volozhin yeshiva, Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Berlin (the "Netziv"), held the "ilui [prodigy] from Griva" in high esteem. Related article: Purim holiday in Volozhin |
| 5646 (1886) |
Married Batsheva, the daughter of Rabbi Eliyahu David Rabinowitz-Teomim (1843-1905)
(known by his initials, the Aderet), then rabbi of Ponevezh, and later chief rabbi
of Jerusalem. |
| 5648 (1888) |
Appointed rabbi of Zeimel (Zeimelis) in Lithuania at age 22. Launched a short-lived monthly rabbinic journal, Itur Sofrim. |
| 5649 (1889) |
During his stay in Zeimel, Rav Kook's first wife died.
(Their daughter Frayda Chana was a year and a half at the time.)His father-in-law the Aderet convinced him to marry Raiza-Rivka Rabinowitz, daughter of the Aderet's twin brother. Raiza-Rivka was the mother of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook, Esther Ya’el Kook, and Batya-Miriam Ra'anan. Studied with the great Kabbalist, Rabbi Shlomo Elyashiv (1839-1926), author of Leshem Shevo Ve-Achlamah. |
| 5654-5656 (1894-1896) | Collected 38 sermons in the book Midbar Shur. The manuscript, however, was stolen, and the book was only published a century later, in 1999. |
| 5656 (1896) |
Became rabbi of Boisk (now Bauska), Latvia. Wrote Musar Avicha, a treatise on moral reflections (published posthumously in 1946). Related article: The story of the gold watch |
| 5664 (1904) |
Arrived in Eretz Yisrael on the 28th of Iyar, 5664. He served as rabbi of
Jaffa and the surrounding settlements for the next ten years.Related articles: Rav Kook Arrives in Jaffa, The Blessing of a Kohen |
| 5665 (1905) |
Published the first chapters of Orot HaTeshuvah, Rav Kook's
original thoughts on the topic of repentence, as well as Eder HaYakar and Ikvei Hatzon.
Related article: Overview of Orot HaTeshuvah |
| 5670 (1910) | Sabbatical year. Published the Halachic work, Shabbat Ha'Aretz,
in defense of the heter mechirah.
Related article: Explanation of permit to work the land during the Sabbatical year |
| 5674 (1913) |
Lead a mission of rabbis to settlements in the north to encourage them and
strengthen religious observance.
Related articles: Dances of Teshuvah in Poriah, A Wise Old Nation, Visit to Merchavya |
| 5674 (1914) |
Traveled to Europe for Agudat Yisrael convention in Germany.
Unable to return to Eretz Yisrael due to the sudden outbreak of World War I, Rav Kook
spent a year and a half in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Related article: Rav Kook first meets Rabbi David Cohen, the 'Nazir' |
| 5676 (1916) |
Served as rabbi of Machzikei HaDat congregation in
London for three years during the war. Published the mystical treatise Rosh Milin.
Related articles: The Balfour Declaration, "Fight On My Behalf" |
| 5679 (1919) |
Returned to Eretz Yisrael.
In Tevet 5680, he accepted the position of Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. Related article: The Jerusalem Policeman |
| 5680 (1920) |
Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook edited some of his father's writings,
publishing them in the book Orot - Rav Kook's most famous work.
Related articles: The Printer's Dilemma |
| 5681 (1921) |
Established Chief Rabbinate of pre-state Israel, becoming
Chief Rabbi together with Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yaakov Meir.
Related articles: The Kosher Kitchen of the Poel Mizrachi, Blasts That Penetrate the Heart, The Kotel Affair |
| 5684 (1924) |
Established the
Mercaz HaRav yeshivah in Jerusalem, unique among the yeshivot at that time in
its religious philosophy and positive attitude towards Zionism. |
| 5695 (1935) |
Rav Kook passed away in Jerusalem on the third of Elul, 5695,
two weeks before his 70th birthday.
Related articles: Stay in the Land, Usishkin's Eulogy, Burial in the Mount of Olives Cemetery |
