Rabbi
Avraham Yitzchak haCohen KookRabbi
Avraham Yitzchak haCohen Kook
picture from: http://www.wzo.org.il/home/portrait/kook.htm
Rabbi Avraham Kook was born in 1865. He was the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi in the Land of Israel (Ashkenazi Jews are Jewish people from Germany, Russia, Poland, and other nearby countries.).
Rav Kook came to Israel in 1904 to be the Chief Rabbi of Jaffa. In 1921, he became Chief Rabbi over all of Israel.
Rav Kook believed that settling the Land of Israel was one of the most special mitzvot (commandments) that a Jewish person could do. He also taught that it was important for every Jew to love one another, even if they were very different. This is why he worked closely with non-religious Jews in order to help build Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel.
http://www.mizrachi.org/leaders/index.asp
Rav Kook was one of the most important Religious Zionist rabbis. A Religious Zionist believes that Jews should have their own state in the Land of Israel not just because it will make them safer, but because it will be a center of Torah and mitzvot. Rav Kook started Mercaz haRav Kook in Jerusalem, which became the most important Yeshiva of Religious Zionism. His son, Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook, eventually followed his father as head of the Yeshiva, and as perhaps the most important rabbi of Religious Zionism.
Rav Kook passed away in 1935, before Israel would become a State. However, his view of Religious Zionism- as well as his Yeshiva- live on forever.
a street
in Israel named after Rav Kook
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