Classes

Mah Jongg for Advanced Beginners

Take your Mah Jongg skills to the next level with this advanced beginner class focused on strategy, decision-making, and high-level gameplay. Designed for players looking to dive into tile efficiency, defensive play, reading opponents and optimizing your hand for success.

Monday, February 23 • 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Register

Price: $25, Member Price: $20

Mah Jongg for Beginners

Wednesdays • February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4 • 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Learn to play the American version of the ancient Chinese tile game. The game is easy to learn, fun to play, and a very sociable pastime. The course will cover the rules of the game as sanctioned by the National Mah Jongg League. Note: This is a basic class for students who have never played before or for students who need a refresher.

To ensure everyone has an opportunity to learn, we kindly ask that participants register for no more than two beginner mah jongg sessions.

Minimum required to run the program

Price: $125; Member Price: $100

Bridge – Supervised Play!

Thursday, March 19 • 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Elevate your Bridge skills and enhance your game through supervised play. These sessions provide a structured e2-nvironment where you can practice and refine your techniques under the guidance of an expert instructor. Perfect for those who want to gain confidence and improve their strategic thinking, this course will help you transition from a novice to a more proficient Bridge player. This class is for those familiar with the rules and have some experience playing. PLEASE NOTE: Participants should have taken Beginner Bridge or have equivalent knowledge and experience.

Price: $30, Member Price: $24

Knitting Classes - Beginner to Intermediate

Tuesdays • March 31, April 7, (no class 4/14 – 4/28) May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2 (make-up bonus class on 6/9) • 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Please note: There will be a short break in the schedule between 4/7 and 5/5.

Whether you’re picking up knitting needles for the first time or looking to build on your existing skills, this class is for you!

Beginners: Learn the basics of knitting. You’ll discover how to knit in the round and gain confidence with each stitch. A beginner’s kit is available for purchase and includes everything you need – yarn, needles and a pattern to get started.

Intermediate Knitters: Already know how to knit but need a little help or inspiration for your next project? Our experienced instructor will be there to offer guidance, answer questions and help you refine your techniques.

Come enjoy a relaxed, supportive environment where creativity and community come together and leave with new skills (and a new hat)!

Price: $140, Member Price: $112

Fixing Knitting Mistakes Workshop

Sunday, April 12 ∙ 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
with continental breakfast!

There's nothing worse than getting stuck in your knitting because you've discovered a mistake and you don't know what to do to fix it! In this class we will cover the most common knitting mistakes, how to fix them and ways to prevent them in the first place. We'll show you how to pick up a dropped stitch in garter stitch and stockinette stitch, how to un-knit to repair a mistake in that row or the row below, how to rip it – if the mistake is further down and you need to rip back. You will be able to fix the most frequent cause of problems, and have confidence to tackle more challenging projects in the future.

The following will be covered in the 3 hour, hands-on workshop:

Identify a dropped knit or purl stitch, then pick up and correctly repair.
Change an incorrect knit stitch to a purl stitch and vice versa.
Identify and repair a twisted stitch.
Correctly identify and label the right side of the work vs. the wrong side.
How to unknit (Tink) stitches one at a time to rescue one or more stitches/rows without having to start again.
When & how to create a lifeline

Participants should bring a size 7, 8 or 9 needles (straight or circular is fine). Each participant will be given a pre-knitted swatch and a tool to be used to correct many projects!

Please feel free to bring in a project with a mistake and we will happily walk you through a fix after the workshop.

We look forward to seeing you at this relaxed, informative event! Happy Knitting!

Price: $32; Member Price: $25.60

Lunch & Learn Series at the JCC with Union County Clergy

Join us for this free inspirational series where you can learn, engage, and explore meaningful topics with our local spiritual leaders in a warm, welcoming setting. Bring your own lunch or purchase a delicious meal from our Schwartzies Kitchen Café.

Between Purim and Passover: The Call of Two Holidays with Rabbi Howard Tilman of Congregation Beth Israel

Wednesday, March 18 • 1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
Separated by only a single month, Purim and Passover offer two very different approaches to joy, identity and communal responsibility. Rabbi Tilman will guide us through a rich discussion on how these holidays contrast, complement and ultimately deepen our understanding of Jewish life and one another.

Midrash – The Stories Behind the Stories with Rabbi Victor Appell of Temple Emanu-El

Wednesday, April 29 • 1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
When the Biblical text is terse and leaves us wanting more, we turn to midrash (Hebrew for interpretation or seeking). Whether written over 1,000 years ago by rabbis steeped in Torah – or by creative modern scholars and writers – midrash offers us an imaginative and sometimes controversial window into the meaning of our most sacred text.

Leaving a Spiritual Legacy – Exploring and Creating a Jewish Ethical Will with Rabbi Emily Losben-Ostrov of Temple Sholom

Wednesday, May 13 • 1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
As we each think about the future, many of us consider what we want to leave behind. Often this is in the context of our belongings and money, but what about our ethical values, ideals, beliefs and our Jewishness? Together we will explore the concept of ethical wills and how we can use this traditional Jewish practice with a modern resonance. Examples from the Torah to today, will help guide the discussion about the spiritual legacy we want to share for the future.

Lunch & Learn Registration

Beginner Mah Jongg - Evening

Wednesdays, May 6, 13, 20 • 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

With eight years of teaching experience, Mahj Moms has helped hundreds of women learn to love the game of Mahjong. Their signature course is designed to set you up for success: in just three, two-hour lessons, you’ll learn everything you need to know to play on your own. From understanding the tiles and reading the card to Charleston strategy, game flow, and defensive play, we break it all down in a clear, supportive, and fun environment. This class is geared towards beginners. No prior experience needed. 2026 mah jongg cards are included.

Price: $100, Member Price: $80

Mah Jongg for Beginners - Day

Wednesday, May 6, Monday, May 11*, Wednesday, May 20, 27 and June 3 • 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
*Please note that May 11 is Monday - not Wednesday!

To ensure everyone has an opportunity to learn, we kindly ask that participants register for no more than two beginner mah jongg sessions.

Minimum required to run the program

Price: $125; Member Price: $100

Mock Mini Mah Jongg Tournament

Monday, May 4 • 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Learn • Play • Compete with Confidence

Try playing Mah Jongg tournament-style - in a comfortable, non-intimidating setting! Join us for a Mock Mini Mah Jongg Tournament – a fun, educational and supportive evening designed to prepare players for competitive Mah Jongg play in a low-pressure environment.

Led by Linda Rosenson, one of the moderators on the largest mah jongg Facebook groups: “Mah Jongg, That’s It!”

This experience is designed to help participants:

Understand the structure of a mini-tournament
Learn and appreciate tournament rules
Prepare for timed competitive play
Learn skills and strategies used in tournament settings
Understand scoring and table rotations
Reduce fear or anxiety associated with official tournaments
Participate in a safe learning environment (even if a hand is called dead, the player continues playing)
Enjoy a fun yet competitive evening where learning is the primary goal

Schedule

Welcome, overview of mini-tournament play, rules, scoring, rotations, and Q&A and dinner! (Please arrive on time!)
6:00-6:30 p.m.

Two 70-minute rounds
6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Four games per round
Approximately 17-18 minutes per game

Scores tallied and prizes awarded to the top three-four highest scores at the conclusion of play
9:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Price: $64, Member Price: $54.40

Siamese Mah Jongg

Stay tuned for upcoming classes

Drawing and Painting for Adults

Stay tuned for upcoming classes

Unlock your inner artist in this inspiring, judgment -free drawing class. Learn a variety of beginner techniques and express yourself through various subjects. All levels are welcome to join this artistic journey. During this introduction to composition and drawing, we will dive into acrylic painting and work on still life projects. Art supplies are included.

Hebrew Classes at the JCC

Hebrew Aleph (Beginner)

Stay tuned for new schedule

Begin your Hebrew language journey! Learn modern conversational Hebrew with the basics which will include reading, writing, vocabulary and in-class conversation.

Hebrew Bet (Intermediate)

Thursdays • February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26

This intermediate class is designed to help participants retain their current knowledge of conversational Hebrew and to enhance their vocabulary, understanding and conversational skills.

Participants will pay $20 per class directly to instructor. Cash or check please.

Questions? Contact Jac Toporek at [email protected].