This year, "A Lion's Life" has added a new section to its weekly newsletter: "Spotlight on the Classroom." By interviewing students grades 9-12, we hope to illustrate the regular day-to-day lives of the students at MTA. From these interviews, we will demonstrate the ordinary and extraordinary ways in which the talmidim at MTA grow as students, people, and bnei Torah. For this second edition of "Spotlight on the Classroom", Raziel Siegman ('17) has interviewed Chaim Weinstein ('18), regarding his popular innovation, called Chapcorn, which is popcorn sold with a slip of paper containing a "chap", a short, but meaningful dvar Torah. RS: Can you explain the idea behind chapcorn? CW: Chapcorn is a strategy that I thought of with my family to raise money for Shalva--an Israeli organization that assists children with special needs--by running in the Jerusalem marathon this March. I need to raise $2,800, so I thought that selling popcorn with a "chap", would be an original and effective way to raise money. Through chapcorn, I am trying to spread Torah to the world in a way that it can be learned willingly and with ease, while still being very enjoyable. If I combine delicious homemade popcorn with powerful words from G-d that can change people's day-to-day lives, I can help those whom it is difficult to truly enjoy learning Torah. RS: How have you collaborated with your family to bring the idea of chapcorn to fruition? CW: The whole company has been a family effort. My mother, who is famed for her homemade popcorn, has taught me how to make freshly popped chapcorn and is the chief of chaperations. My dad, and my brothers Shmuel and Eli, help me write the chaps, while my sister-in-laws taste test, to make sure that the flavor of chapcorn is at its finest. Then, I bring dozens of bags of popcorn to school, selling them to students from all grades. RS: What ideas do you have for the future of chapcorn? CW: I plan on installing a chapcorner outside of the library, which will have a table where there will be announcements and Chapcorn bags for sale. In addition to the two current flavors, original and the popular ChabadBQ, we plan on launching more varieties in the near future. Next week, we will introduce Rav Shlomo Kettlebach, a Kettle Corn flavored Chapcorn. After that, we hope to establish new flavors, such as Rav Kookies 'n' Cream, with chaps from Rav Kook, and Nanach Nachos, containing chaps from Rebbi Nachman. RS: What have you gained from this experience? CW: It is quite incredible to see people eating chapcorn all around MTA. Through this small undertaking, I have spread the learning of Torah while raising tzedakah for an important organization. I have also learned quite a lot about building my own website, as well as business and sales management. I have to constantly come up with new flavors and ideas to attract customers. If you present the customers with a variety of flavors and options to choose from, they are much more likely to be interested than if you only have one product, so we need to keep innovating. RS: Why should someone buy chapcorn instead of getting their popcorn elsewhere? CW: That is simple: Torah is priceless. RS: Do you have any final advice to your chapcorn customers? CW: It is always important to remember: Torah first, taste second. It's not just about the tzedakah or the taste of the delicious popcorn, but you get the opportunity to learn Hakadosh Baruch Hu's Torah, and that is something to cherish. The latest information about chapcorn can be found on their website, at chapcorn.com