Building Hours:Mah Jongg at the J
American Mah Jongg is an exciting four-player tile game with Chinese origins. Using 152 tiles depicting Chinese characters and symbols, players pick and discard in turn to form combinations found on the National Mah Jongg League’s annual card of hands. Strategy, skill and luck are needed to be the first player to complete a hand and declare “Mah Jongg!”
| Events |
Mah Jongg Madness: Holiday Edition
Sunday, December 13 | 9:30am-1:30pm
Ages: 13+
Non-Members/Participants: $55 | JCC Members: $45
Bring your friends and spend a morning playing Mah Jongg! Games will be played following the National Mah Jongg League rules. We will match you with players at the same level of play! Each player must register individually. Enjoy three rounds of play (9-12 games), continental breakfast, light refreshments, prizes for the top winners and holiday surpises!
Mahj in the Mountains Woodloch Weekend Retreat
Friday, March 5 - Sunday, March 7
Woodloch Pines Resort (731 Welcome Lake Rd, Hawley, PA 18428)
Join the JCC at the award-winning Woodloch Pines Resort for a two-day, exclusive mahjong retreat! Soak in the beauty of the outdoors while enjoying shared meals, great friends, unforgettable fun, and of course… endless mahjong.
| Classes |
Learn to Play Mah Jongg (Beginner Class)
Fridays, 11/6 - 11/20 | 10am-12pm
(Instructor: Tracy)
Non-Members/Participants: $150 | JCC Members: $125
Come have fun and learn to play American Mah Jongg, an exciting four-player tile game with Chinese origins. Using 152 tiles depicting Chinese characters and symbols, players pick and discard in turn to form combinations found on the National Mah Jongg League's annual card of hands. Strategy, skill and luck are needed to be the first player to complete a hand and declare "Mah Jongg!" This 3-session class will be taught in person at the JCC of the Lehigh Valley. The current National Mah Jongg League card is included in the price.
Siamese Mah Jongg (Intermediate Class)
Tuesday, November 10 | 5:30-8:30pm
(Instructor: Christopher)
Non-Members/Participants: $75 | JCC Members: $65
Only two players? No problem. Siamese Mah Jongg is a two-player version of the game in which each player manages two racks and plays two hands at the same time. There's no Charleston. Instead, you draw freely from a shared pool of tiles and build toward mah jongg on either rack. It's a great way to keep playing when you can't get a full table, and it's excellent practice for reading the card, recognizing hands quickly, and keeping several options open at once. Registration includes the official 2026 Siamese Mah Jongg Card.
This is not a beginner class. Participants should already be comfortable playing American Mah Jongg under NMJL rules. If you're newer to the game, take Learn to Play Mah Jongg first.
Mah Jongg Tournament Ready (Intermediate Class)
Wednesday, January 6 | 5:30-8:30pm
(Instructor: Christopher)
Non-Members/Participants: $75 | JCC Members: $65
Want to play in a mah jongg tournament, or just play with more confidence and speed? Tournament play is fast. Players typically complete four games in about 50 minutes, so there's little time to study the card or rethink every discard. This class works on quick decision-making: picking a hand early, knowing when to switch, handling the Charleston efficiently, and keeping a steady pace all the way through a game. We'll also practice full timed rounds so the pace feels normal before you ever sit down at a tournament table.
This is not a beginner class. Participants should already be comfortable playing American Mah Jongg under NMJL rules. That means you should be able to read the current card, choose and switch hands, call and expose tiles, and make joker exchanges without much help. If you're newer to the game, take Learn to Play Mah Jongg first. Please bring your current NMJL card.
Private classes available upon request at your home, club, or the JCC. Contact Tracy Sussman at [email protected] for more information.
| Just for Fun |
Winter Mah Jongg League
Mondays, 5:30-8pm
January 11 - February 15
Celebratory Dinner February 22
Price: $150 | JCC Members: $125
Designed for all skill levels, this 6-week league offers flexible gameplay. Enjoy light snacks and beverages weekly, a stress-free "best 5 of 6 scores" ranking system, and an exciting Grand Finale celebration on February 22 featuring dinner, mocktails and prizes for the top three overall winners. Spots are limited to ensure balanced four-player tables.
Leisure Game of Mah Jongg
Mondays, 1:30-3:30pm | Wednesdays, 1-3:30pm
Sundays, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Reservations Required
Price: $5 | JCC Members/Participants: Free
Come and play a leisure game of Mah Jongg! It’s more than just a fun game, Mah Jongg is a great ways to sharpen your mental acuity and socialize. Reservations are required to secure your seat at the table (available up to two weeks in advance).
| Mah Jongg Card Orders |
Regular Print: $16
Large Print: $18
Same price as ordering through the National Mah Jongg League and a portion of the sales will benefit scholarships for children to attend Early Childhood Education and Camp programs at the JCC. Cash, check, and credit cards accepted. Checks should be made payable to the JCC of the Lehigh Valley.
JCC Mah Jongg in the News
Contact
Tracy Sussman ([email protected]) | 610-435-3571
