Pozez JCC Beginner Mah Jongg Lessons (Fairfax VA)

Q: How much does the Pozez JCC beginner Mah Jongg course cost?

On 2026-10-06 both Fall event pages listed **$115 for JCC members** and **$125 for non-members** for the four-week course. A 2026 NMJL card can be bought from the instructor or the league for $15.

Q: When are the Fall 2026 classes?

Two tracks: **Tuesdays 6:30–9:00 PM**, Oct 6 – Nov 3 (no class Oct 27), and **Wednesdays 10:00 AM–12:30 PM**, Oct 7 – Nov 4 (no class Oct 28).

Q: Can I keep playing after the course?

The JCC’s Recreational Games page lists Mah Jongg play **Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am–noon**, for 3–5 players, with sets supplied by the J; bring your own current-year card.

Category: Learning · Northern Virginia American Mah Jongg beginner course
Also called: Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia Mah Jongg lessons; Beginner Mah Jongg with Bette Shanley; theJ.org Mah Jongg
Last checked: 2026-10-06

What it is

Pozez JCC Beginner Mah Jongg Lessons is a first-party, four-session, in-person American Mah Jongg (National Mah Jongg League) course at the Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia in Fairfax, Virginia, taught by instructor Bette Shanley. Students learn to read the NMJL card, identify the tiles, and the rules and elements of play. Its identity for this listing is a specific dated beginner class, not open play and not an equipment shop.

Who it’s for

Adults (18+) in Northern Virginia / the Washington, DC suburbs who have never played or want a structured restart, and prefer a small class (4–12 students) at a community center. Existing learning listings on disk are in other metros or online (RichMahj in Central/Eastern Virginia, Motor City Mahjong, Punta Gorda, Ladies That Mahj online, Beginners American Mahjong San Diego, Gracey Tile Club PDX, Bon Mahj Raleigh-Durham, Twin Cities, San Francisco, etc.). The only DC-metro listing on disk is DC Riichi Mahjong, a Japanese Riichi club — not an American Mah Jongg class.

Why it’s listed

The plaza needs a specific, priced, dated beginner course in an unused metro — geography and format diversity vs Monday’s Gracey Tile Club PDX (SE Portland studio), Friday’s Beginners American Mahjong (San Diego series), Thursday’s Ladies That Mahj (online video course), Wednesday’s Punta Gorda Mahjong (SW Florida), and Tuesday’s Motor City Mahjong (Metro Detroit).

Fall evening session (https://thej.org/event/beginner-mah-jongg-lessons-in-person/) returned 200 on 2026-10-06: Tuesdays, October 6 – November 3 (4 weeks — no class Oct. 27), 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM. Instructor Bette Shanley; ages 18+. Course content: read the Mah Jongg card, identify the tiles, rules of American Mah Jongg, elements of play. 2026 cards can be bought from the instructor or the league for $15. Minimum 4, maximum 12 students. Fee: $115 JCC member / $125 non-member. Questions: Adult Services, 703.537.3068.
Fall daytime session (https://thej.org/event/beginner-mah-jongg-lessons-in-person-2/) returned 200: Wednesdays, October 7 – November 4 (4 weeks — no class Oct. 28), 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM; same instructor, course description, class size, and $115 / $125 fee.
Summer 2026 session page (https://thej.org/event/beginner-mah-jongg-lessons-summer-2026-daytime/) returned 200 (event marked as passed): Wednesdays, Aug 12 – Sep 2 (4 classes), 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM, same fee — evidence the course runs as a recurring series.
Recreational Games page (https://thej.org/fitness-rec/recreational-games/) returned 200: Mah Jongg Mondays & Wednesdays, 10am–noon, a friendly game for 3–5 players; the J supplies the Mah Jongg sets, players bring their own current-year card. Note on the same page: beginner Mah Jongg lessons require a minimum of four students to run in person.
JCC blog post “MAH JONGG – A Game for All (Ages)!” (https://thej.org/mah-jongg-a-game-for-all-ages/) returned 200 (by Shari Berman, Adult Engagement Director, dated September 26, 2025): beginner lessons offered quarterly by Bette Shanley as a standard four-class course; a recent class of 10 new players ranged in age from 31 to 64. (Older post; its 2025 Siamese-lesson and tournament dates are not current.)

Sessions run only with at least four students, and dates and fees can change — confirm on the live event page before registering. Whether a set is provided during class is not stated on the event pages (the course page says students need access to a set).

Official URL

Fall evening course (Tuesdays): https://thej.org/event/beginner-mah-jongg-lessons-in-person/

Fall daytime course (Wednesdays): https://thej.org/event/beginner-mah-jongg-lessons-in-person-2/

Recreational Games (open play): https://thej.org/fitness-rec/recreational-games/

Pozez JCC home: https://thej.org/

Location

Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031. Phone 703.323.0880.

Notes

Learning listing: a priced four-session beginner course. The JCC’s Monday/Wednesday open play is supporting context, not the listing identity.
American Mah Jongg (NMJL card), not Riichi; distinct from DC Riichi Mahjong (McLean VA) already on disk.
Distinct from RichMahj (Richmond-area lessons) already on disk.
Not affiliated with Mahjong Plaza.

FAQ

Q: How much does the Pozez JCC beginner Mah Jongg course cost?
A: On 2026-10-06 both Fall event pages listed $115 for JCC members and $125 for non-members for the four-week course. A 2026 NMJL card can be bought from the instructor or the league for $15.

Q: When are the Fall 2026 classes?
A: Two tracks: Tuesdays 6:30–9:00 PM, Oct 6 – Nov 3 (no class Oct 27), and Wednesdays 10:00 AM–12:30 PM, Oct 7 – Nov 4 (no class Oct 28).

Q: Can I keep playing after the course?
A: The JCC’s Recreational Games page lists Mah Jongg play Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am–noon, for 3–5 players, with sets supplied by the J; bring your own current-year card.