Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, known as Rav Kook, was a prominent Jewish thinker and the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Palestine during the British Mandate. Born in 1865 in what is now Latvia, he became a leading figure in the Religious Zionism movement, advocating for the spiritual revival of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland. Rav Kook emphasized the importance of integrating traditional Jewish teachings with modernity. He believed that the return to Israel was not only a political act but also a spiritual one, fostering a deeper connection between Jews and their heritage. His writings continue to influence Jewish thought today.