AllMovie

One would not expect a Professor of Jewish Studies to be one of the most popular instructors at the University of Iowa, but since 1970 Rabbi Jay Holstein has been fascinating students at the college, and even though he traditionally lectures to five hundred students at a time his courses almost always fill up far in advance. While Holstein is a member of the Religious Studies department, in his course he covers the gamut of human experience, and isn't afraid to address his students in blunt, often politically incorrect fashion as he discusses faith, food, sex, philosophy and practically anything that effects the way we view the world. Approaching 70 years of age, Holstein still runs ten miles a day, enjoys shooting pistols at the firing range, and challenges the ideals and assumptions of his students. Filmmaker Daniel Kraus attended Holstein's classes at the University of Iowa, and Professor is a documentary that examines the professional and personal lives of this multi-faceted character. The third in Kraus's "Work Series" of films about remarkable people and their work, Professor was an official selection at the 2010 Cinequest Film Festival.