Mahjong is having its moment.

Originally invented in China, mahjong was imported to the United States and adapted into its current format by primarily Jewish women in New York. Today, the game is having a post-COVID renaissance as a social pastime, with the designs of its distinctive tiles seeping into popular culture.

“There was all of a sudden a new surge of interest in Mahjong,” Mahjong aficionado and Malka Diamonds co-owner Ronnie Malka explained, “and new tiles were being made.”

Malka’s firm has also made its own tile, though not one for use in game play. Meanwhile, another organization near to Malka’s heart, Camp Solomon Schechter, is putting on a weekend devoted to Mahjong this Labor Day weekend.

Melissa Matterazzo is the Portland chair for Mahj & More, hosted at the camp in Tumwater Washington Friday, Sept. 4 through Monday, Sept. 7. Her mahjong journey started in childhood but got into high gear through her friendship with fellow co-chair Jane Rosenstein.

“She lives up on Mercer Island, and we get together once every couple months,” Matterazzo explained. “She is an avid player, and she really got me up and running. Every couple months when we got together, we would play and we have a couple friends that we play with.”

Another of the co-chairs, Marilyn Corets, spawned the idea and recruited Matterazzo and others.

“It was her brainchild,” Matterazzo said, “and she sort of handpicked some folks from the various cities up and down the West Coast, and off we went.”

The weekend is geared for both experienced players and newcomers to the game; Matterazzo said that an environment like this, where sustained play over a number of days is available, is an excellent environment to learn the game. 

“To have that intensive three days of opportunity to get your basics down and then build enough momentum and skill to get enough play in that you can sort of solidifies the concepts and the hands in your head, it’s a rare opportunity,” she added. “That was sort of Marilyn’s thinking behind this whole thing.”

There’s also the usual host of other camp activities for those who need a break or aren’t much for mahjong. All that, and kosher meals, are included in the registration fee. Guests are encouraged to bring their National Mah Jongg League 2026 Playing Card, which lays out the game’s annually changing structures, as well as their own tile sets.

The tile Malka’s firm has produced doesn’t go with any set. In celebration of the game, Malka Diamonds has produced the MALKA X MAHJ collection based the game’s classic One Bamboo tile, which by tradition depicts a sparrow, the translation of the game’s name in Chinese.

“That tile just really is a special one for everyone. There’s something about it that centers the game,” Malka said. “I took a One Bam[boo] from an old 1920s or 1930s set and used that as my inspiration and made a pendant.”

The pendant is available in sterling silver, gold-plated and in solid 14-karet gold. It’s being featured in Mahj Magazine and in an upcoming coffee table book, “Why We Mahjong.” A silver pendant will be raffled off at Mahj & More. Those who can't wait can puirchase online using code "CSSMahj" at checkout to get 10 percent off and direct 40 percent of proceeds to Camp Solomon Schechter.

Malka has taught her husband, Dave, her father and a few friends the game. It’s an integral part of her family’s life.

“My dad plays on the app every day, and it keeps him nice and sharp. It’s got so much good to it,” she said. Dave and I play almost every night after work. Instead of sitting and watching TV, we play Mahjong. He’s really good at it. Our girls play, and they’ve taught their boyfriends, and they come over and play.”

The MALKA X MAHJ collection is available online at malkadiamonds.com/collections/malka-x-mahj. More information and registration for Schechter’s Mahj & More weekend is available at campschechter.org/mahj.

PHOTO: Courtesy Malka Diamonds