Founding
By the mid-1930s American mahjong players were frustrated by conflicting rules. In 1937 a group of players in New York founded the National Mah Jongg League to establish a single American standard. Its members were largely Jewish women, and the League became a fixture of Jewish community life.
The League's approach was distinctive: instead of a scoring system rewarding combinations, it published a list of permitted winning hands.
The annual card
The League issues a new card every year, typically in the spring, listing the hands that may be used to win that year. Each hand is shown with its tile pattern, whether it may be exposed or must be concealed, and its point value. Changing the card yearly keeps the game fresh and gives everyone a level start each season.
The card is copyrighted, and players buy their own each year. Proceeds of card sales support charitable causes.
A community institution
For generations, American Mah Jongg has been central to social life in Jewish communities, especially among women. Synagogues, community centres and retirement communities host games and lessons, and many families pass down sets and memories with them. Museums, including the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, have explored this history in exhibitions.
Today
The League remains the authority on American Mah Jongg. Its card and rules are used by clubs, teachers and online platforms across the United States, and the 2020s revival of interest among younger players has brought record numbers of new learners to the American game.
