Five Crack! Three Bam! Six Dot! Each tile clacks against the rack until it’s placed in its own winning algorithm. Over 19 tables of four players each, plus servers, raffle and registration mavens and a silent auction. What a day!

It was the annual It’s Not a Tournament Day at Congregation Nir Tamid (CNT) of South Bay, California. From Redondo Beach to Torrance and across to San Pedro, the women came to Palos Verdes to play mahjong from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Hats off to our Sisterhood Co-President Leslie Back for organizing this fabulous mahjong event, where this year’s proceeds will support scholarships for needy children to attend Jewish summer camp.

The event started with a light breakfast, followed by a yummy luncheon. Plus, there were trail mix and pretzel snacks. I made lemon blueberry mini muffins for breakfast; they were nestled among many other continental style delights. Even the coffee was good.

Came lunch and the meatless chili was delicious. It was served with a choice of two different salads, cornbread and cheese and sour cream toppers. Warm, filling and tasty. And Kosher!

Desserts were so plentiful — we had a mock Viennese table, filled with fruits, chocolates, brownies, coffee cakes and more muffins. All items were homemade and organized to create well-balanced meals.

This was actually a community-wide project and the CNT sisterhood, of which I am a proud member, was delighted to sponsor and organize it. The event was open to the entire community regardless of religious affiliation.

And participate we did! Imagine 74 women of various ages clicking, clacking and talking up a storm for over four hours. The noise, though just bearable, added to the excitement and propelled us on. We sat table to table and could hear the next table as they played. Not really as distracting as you might think, though. It was joyous!

Each table had a score card of sorts. Though the average game lasted about 15 minutes, deciding strategies and catching up with friends takes time, especially when you haven’t seen each other for a whole day, or maybe a whole year — or since the last L’Dor V’Dor coffee and catchup get together last week.

Each win was scored next to the winner’s name and the top winner at each table won a lovely gift basket. In addition to having an overall winner, each of us at my table won games. That doesn’t always happen.

And then there was the silent auction. Our ladies did a superfine job getting local shopkeepers to support us with wall art, gift certificates, spa packages, as well as many restaurant dinners, jewelry, a lovely glass vase, cookie cutters and a slow cooker — from the sublime to the relaxing.

I won a butcher shop gift certificate which will come in handy for Passover. On behalf of a group of friends, I placed a winning bid on a dinner and live jazz for all of us to enjoy at Montauk Restaurant, the newest hot spot in Redondo Beach’s Riviera Village.

Between my local Hadassah group, L’Dor V’Dor, where I am still publicity chair, and Congregation Nir Tamid’s Sisterhood, where I am just an interested member, I have a rather full Jewish life. These women are my lifeline to the Jewish community and my identity.

I have been with my synagogue and the sisterhood for over 40 years – dating back to a walking group I joined. One spring day, the women asked me to help make hamantaschen; they taught me how to knip the edges, so they stay closed. I learned and became part of a new adventure.

As for Hadassah, I am a lifetime member and have been active locally since the inception of the L’Dor V’Dor group. By the way, I was the one who gave our group its name – “from generation to generation.”

I’m really looking forward to more events with service at their heart.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)