Hi, I’m Shanna
I learned to play Mahjong in 2021, masked and pregnant with my third child, at a synagogue during a time when the world felt uncertain and disconnected.
What started as a simple game quickly became so much more. Mahjong gave me a sense of community, belonging, and peace during a season filled with stress and worry. It connected me to new friends, to generations who came before me, and to something bigger than myself.
Today, through Keep Mahjing On, I have the privilege of passing that gift on to others - one table, one lesson, and one new player at a time.
More about me…
I'm Shanna Gottlieb — fourth-generation Mahjong lover, wife, mom of three, and proud owner of Keep Mahjing On. When I'm not shuffling tiles, I'm likely creating carpool and dance party playlists featuring John Mayer, Taylor Swift, Debbie Gibson, Whitney Houston, and a healthy dose of Hamilton. Fueled by caffeine, community, craks (IYKYK), and chaos (in that order), I'm here to prove that Mahj is so much more than a game — it's a movement.
Whether it's a private lesson around your kitchen table or a public class at your local community center, I'm all about making American Mahjong feel approachable, exciting, and just the right amount of addictive. My lessons are playful, personalized, and always evolving — just like your game will be!
I bring everything you need to learn and play: luxe tiles, loaner NMJL cards, custom guides, and a whole lot of encouragement. We'll cover it all — from a crash course in tile suits to reading the card, the Charleston, and even a bit of Mahj history (hello, 1930s NYC!).
I also host open play events and fundraisers where you and your crew of 4+ can sit back and enjoy the game without worrying about hosting, setup, or cleanup. Just show up and Mahj on.
Let's play day or night — and Keep Mahjing On!
Meet the team
Shanna Gottlieb
Founder and heart of Keep Mahjing On. Shanna brings luxe tiles, loaner NMJL cards, and a whole lot of encouragement to every table across New Jersey - teaching players of all levels with a style that's playful, personalized, and just the right amount of addictive. A fourth-generation Mahjong lover who turned a lifelong passion into a thriving community, she's the reason this all exists. For Shanna, every lesson is about more than the game, it's about creating a space where everyone feels welcome, capable, and ready to call their next hand. As Shanna loves to say, it’s not just a vibe, it’s an experience.
Founder & Lead Instructor | New Jersey
Erica Rubinson
OG Co-Founder. Speech therapist by day, Mahjong powerhouse always. Erica teaches throughout Monmouth County with the kind of warmth that makes total beginners feel like they've been playing for years. A proud 4:30 a.m. early BAM bird - she's already logged her weighted-vest walk and a few podcast episodes before most people hit snooze. She discovered Mahjong during COVID with a group of mom friends and never looked back. For Erica, it's never just the tiles - it's the laughter, the connection, and the friendships built around the table. Her energy helped lay the very foundation of Keep Mahjing On.
Trained Instructor | New Jersey
Tina Salwen
Instructor, math teacher, and 3rd-generation Mahjong player keeping a beautiful family tradition alive. Tina teaches throughout Mercer and Monmouth Counties (and the occasional Hoboken appearance!) with the kind of competitive spirit that makes every game more fun. She learned from her mom Barbara in 2019, spent her maternity leave at the table, and never looked back. When she's not teaching tiles or integers, she's deep in an audiobook, at book club, or finding any excuse to catch a Broadway show. Tina brings the same patience she gives her middle schoolers to every new Mahjong student.
Trained Instructor | New Jersey
Heather Weinshank
Instructor, book lover, and proof that 2024 was a very good year to discover Mahjong. Heather caught the bug fast and never looked back. Now she brings that same first-love energy to every beginner she teaches across Marlboro and beyond. Her favorite part of the game is the endless variety - she plays a different hand every time and is genuinely fascinated by how each set of tiles tells its own story. Outside the table, she's staying active, finishing a great book, or making a very reasonable case for retail therapy. Her personal philosophy: every day needs laughter, Mahj, and a little chocolate. We couldn't agree more.
Trained Instructor | New Jersey
Jillian Gelman
Newest instructor, retail merchandiser, and the person who turned her daughters' preschool into a Mahjong fundraising operation. Jillian discovered the game during COVID and has been obsessed ever since - in the best possible way. She still plays with her mother's set, a treasured gift from her grandmother, and carries that sense of nostalgia and generational connection into every table she teaches. For Jillian, Mahjong is about something increasingly rare: a real reason to put the phone down and be fully present with people. When she's not teaching or playing, she's raising Sydney and Quinn with her husband Sean, or finding her way to a concert.
Trained Instructor | New Jersey
Instructor, Long Island local, and Shanna's college and NYC roommate - some friendships were basically built for this. Lyndsey fell in love with Mahjong over a decade ago and brings that same easy, lived-in love of the game to every table she teaches. She specializes in American Mahjong using NMJ rules and is available for private lessons across Long Island. When she's not dealing tiles or Canasta cards, you'll find her at the beach, carpooling Ella and Ari to their next activity, or deep into her latest reality TV obsession. Lucky the dog has no complaints.
Trained Instructor | Long Island
Lyndsey Cohen
Patient
We meet every student exactly where they are. There's no rushing, no overwhelming — just clear, step-by-step instruction at a pace that builds confidence from the very first tile.
Joyful
Mahjong is supposed to be fun. We make sure every lesson, open play, and event feels like something you want to come back to — not homework. The best learning happens when you're laughing.
Inclusive
All ages, all experience levels, all backgrounds are welcome here. Whether you're 25 or 75, a complete beginner or a rusty player, there's a place for you at our table.
Our approach
Don’t take our word for it…
Do it! Eight of us committed the time for lessons with Keep Mahjing On! Everyone’s schedules and commitments are crazy but I am so glad we figured it out to have these lessons! As a busy mom- it’s important to add yourself into the schedule! Shanna and Tina were amazing teachers! The perfect amount of background, knowledge and coaching needed to feel confident to play! Looking forward to at LEAST once a month mahjong nights with my fellow Mahj Mamas! Because we are already making order out of CHAOS, daily!
Ready to play?
Browse our offerings, read what students have to say, or get in touch directly.