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.

Married Batsheva, the daughter of Rabbi Eliyahu David Rabinowitz-Teomim (the Aderet), then rabbi of Ponevezh, and later chief rabbi of Jerusalem.

Appointed rabbi of Zeimel (Zeimelis) in Lithuania at age 22. Launched a short-lived monthly rabbinic journal, Itur Sofrim.

During his stay in Zeimel, Rav Kook's first wife died. He later married Raiza-Rivka Rabinowitz, daughter of the Aderet's twin brother. She was the mother of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook.

←During this period, he studied with the great Kabbalist, Rabbi Shlomo Elyashiv, author of Leshem Shevo Ve-Achlamah.

Became rabbi of Boisk (now Bauska), Latvia.

←Wrote Musar Avicha, a treatise on personal spiritual growth, character refinement, fear of God, and inner reflection.

Arrived in Eretz Yisrael on the 28th of Iyar, 5664 (May 13, 1904). Served as rabbi of Jaffa and the surrounding settlements for the next ten years.

Published the first chapters of Orot HaTeshuvah, as well as Eder HaYakar and Ikvei Hatzon.

Sabbatical year. Published the Halachic work, Shabbat Ha'Aretz, in defense of the heter mechirah.

Led a mission of rabbis to settlements in the north to strengthen religious observance.

Traveled to Europe for the Agudat Yisrael convention. Trapped by the outbreak of WWI, he spent a year and a half in St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Arrived in London to serve as rabbi of Machzikei HaDat congregation. Published the mystical treatise Rosh Millin.

Returned to Eretz Yisrael and accepted the position of Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem.

Orot — Rav Kook's most famous work — was published, edited by his son, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook.

Established the Chief Rabbinate of pre-state Israel, becoming the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi.

Established the Mercaz HaRav yeshivah in Jerusalem.

Passed away in Jerusalem on the third of Elul, 5695 (Sep 1, 1935), two weeks before his 70th birthday.