R. Abraham Isaac Kook (1865–1935). R. Kook rabbinical authority, mystic, and philosopher, was born in Greiva (now Griva), Latvia. At a very early age R. Kook showed independence of mind and far-reaching curiosity. While a student in the yeshiva in Volozhin he supplemented his traditional Talmudic education with the study of the Bible, Hebrew language, Jewish and general philosophy, and mysticism. In 1888 he was appointed rabbi of Zaumel, and in 1895 became rabbi of Bausk (now Bauska). In 1904 he immigrated to Erez Israel, where he served as rabbi of Jaffa, chief rabbi of Jerusalem, and with the formation of the chief rabbinate in 1921, as Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Palestine. R. Kook held that the return to Erez Israel marked the beginning of divine redemption (athalta di-ge'ullah).