Sundays with Sondheimer: Being Jewish at a Catholic school

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On Sundays this summer, I’m presenting my favorite videos from those I’ve shot over the last three years and telling the back story.

Ben Loth of Encino Crespi was a terrific offensive lineman in 2008. But even more interesting was the fact he was Jewish and attending a Catholic school.

I went to speak with him, and we sat together in the chapel across the street from Crespi. He explained how his religious beliefs were not affected hanging out with a student body that was mostly Catholic. He also gave insight into how important summer conditioning is for football.

His experience was a positive one, and now his brother, Joel, a 6-foot-6 basketball-football player, will be a freshman this fall at West Hills Chaminade, another Catholic school. Loth received a scholarship to Iowa State, where he has grown to 322 pounds.

-- Eric Sondheimer