In 1937, a group of Jewish women in Manhattan, New York, formed the National Mah-Jongg League (NMJL), which still strives to maintain consistency in the game. The League issues a card listing winning combinations of tiles (which change yearly) and standard regulations. Throughout World War II, the game continued to be played among Jewish women’s circles as it increased in popularity and became more prevalent in their lives while their men were off at war. By the middle of the century, Mah-Jongg had spread from the city to the suburbs and vacation resorts—it went along with the Jews. For a few decades, the game was a retirement home favorite, and now, it’s trending once again. This time, it’s making a splash with millennial and Gen Z women—particularly those across the South looking for an organized, recurring (and competitive) way to gather socially.

 

Source: MyJewishLearning.com and StyleBluePrint.com.