By Melissa Hunter
Assistant Editor
This past Sunday, June 11, Cincinnati Hadassah hosted its 7th Annual Cincinnati Hadassah “Jon Boskind Memorial” Mahjongg Tournament at the Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The tournament included a total of four rounds (16 games) plus lunch for those in attendance. Players of all levels of experience were welcome to participate. Those newer to the game could choose three other players to sit with at a non-rotating table. More experienced players were seated randomly and rotated after each round of four games. Prizes were awarded to winners, and there were raffle and door prizes as well. Mahjongg items were also available for purchase, including the latest 2023 playing card.
The game of mahjongg originated in China in the 1800s, but by the mid-twentieth century, it was popular in American Jewish culture, particularly among Jewish women. “In 1937, a group of Jewish women formed the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL), which to this day strives to maintain consistency in the game” (MyJewishLearing). The game is still widely popular, and Hadassah provides new playing cards each year.
Now in its seventh year, the Cincinnati chapter’s tournament was sold out. It is named in honor of the late Jon Boskind.
