Mahjong, Jewish Community, and Mezuzah Design
For my friends and me, mahjong is more than just a game. It's our way to relax, connect over a glass of wine, and stay in touch regularly.
If you’re not familiar with mahjong, it’s traditional Chinese tile-based game that involves strategy, skill, and luck. It was brought to the Lower East Side by Chinese immigrants, where it was embraced by various immigrant communities, including Jews. In the 1950’s, mahjong became especially popular among Jewish women, which is when my mom picked it up.
Often passed down through generations, my husband's mother taught my kids mahjong, though they were probably too young for it to stick. More recently, my mom, sister, and I have brought my niece and nephew into the fold. They just turned 16, which seems like the perfect age because they picked it up quickly and even got mahjong:) For their birthday, and to encourage them to continue with the game, we got them their own set that they can play at home with their parents. Perhaps one day, they'll have their own group of friends and younger family members to share the game with.
The connection between mahjong and the Jewish community recently inspired me to create a series of ceramic mezuzot. Known (in the Chinese version of the game) as the “seasons”, I was drawn to this set of tiles for their beautiful plant designs. To have them fit nicely on the elongated rectangular shape of the mezuzah, I reworked the plants, then replaced the traditional Chinese character with the Hebrew shin often found on mezuzot.
