L’dor V’dor: A Legacy Through Mahjong

Two women smiling and holding a card that reads 'National Mah Jongg League, Inc., 88th Year, Official Standard Hands and Rules, $15.00, 2025, Chinese characters, and © National Mah Jongg League, Inc. 2023 US and Canada.' The women are inside a home, with a window showing a deck and outdoor scenery, and a kitchen counter with flowers in a vase in the background.
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a colorful face mask and a black top, holding a green briefcase in a large room with empty chairs and tables, and a wooden panel wall in the background.
Four women and a young girl sitting around a table playing the board game 'Sorry!' in a well-lit room with large windows and hardwood floors.

L’dor V’dor is a Hebrew phrase meaning “from generation to generation.” It captures the beautiful tradition of passing down values, stories, and rituals — just like Mahjong — through the family line. At Keep Mahjing On, this spirit is at the heart of everything I do: honoring the past while teaching the next generation to carry the game, and its meaning, forward.

In my own family, Mahjong is more than a game — it’s a legacy. I’m proud to be the fourth generation of players, following in the footsteps of my great-grandmothers, Bessie and Sayde, who first brought Mahjong into our family.

My Grandma Frannie, who coined the phrase Keep Mahjing On, is now in her 90s and still plays weekly with her friends — a tradition that inspires me every day. My mom, Andrea, plays too, and the love for the game continues to grow across generations.

My very first set came from my Bubbie (my grandmother on my dad’s side), and over the years, the circle has widened. My Aunt Nancy and sister-in-law Michelle are devoted players, and I’ve had the joy of teaching my cousins Emily and Melissa, as well as my sister-in-law Jessica. I’ve shared the game with my son, Leo, bringing the tradition into its fifth generation and most recently, I had the pleasure of teaching my dad’s sister, my Aunt Dodi, how to play Mahjong at my Mahjong for Beginners class.

In our family, the click of the tiles tells a story — one of love, laughter, connection, and continuity. Whether it’s a regular game night or a spontaneous kitchen-table lesson, Mahjong continues to bring us together.

I can’t wait to help you begin your own Mahjong journey — and Keep Mahjing On with your own circle of players.

A young boy with a big smile sitting at a table with a Mahjong game set, holding a score sheet in one hand and Mahjong tiles in the other.
Three women sitting at a table with dominoes, cards, and phones, smiling for the camera inside a cafe with large windows and a city street behind them.
Five women gathered around a table playing Mahjong, smiling at the camera, with Mahjong tiles and game instructions laid out on the table.
Two women smiling and posing together in front of a brick wall with neon sign that says "Rise & Grind." One woman is wearing a patterned sweater, and the other woman is wearing a black top with a gold cross necklace.
Two women are sitting at a dining table playing the game Monopoly. They are smiling and facing the camera inside a house with large windows showing a backyard with trees and a deck outside.