Our Story
On Wednesday nights we were excused to our bedrooms after dinner. It was mom's mah jongg night. The snacks were on the kitchen island and the game was at the kitchen table. I sat at the top of the stairs, listening to the shuffling of the tiles and the call as each tile was named during a discard.
Years later it was a rite of passage when I took a class at the JCC to learn to play American mah jongg. I now had my own group of friends sitting around a game table in my basement. That began over twenty years ago.
Today that same game is experiencing a revolution. I am excited to open a new space founded on the belief that mah jongg is more than just a game -- it's a social ritual. Pung Intended (lovingly dubbed "the pung") is a warm gathering space where the noise of the day fades into the quiet hum of strategy and conversation. In this "third space" we are fostering a community that values both the art of the game and the bonds it creates. From our curated lessons to our guided play sessions, we provide the perfect setting for players to sharpen their skills and make lasting connections. We look forward to seeing you.
Our Team
Cindy Goldstein
Founder
Cindy has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, beginning with selling those fabulous ribbon barrettes that were popular in the 80's. However, it's taken many years and a circuitous journey to this new venture. She is the owner and lead educator at Pung Intended. Cindy has been playing mah jongg for over 25 years in multiple regular games, enjoying the mix of social interaction and strategic play. She is a member of the MahjLife Instructor Guild, an organization dedicated to assisting instructors to gauge their level of knowledge and provide clarity to students, with a focus on differentiating national mah jongg league rules from house/table rules. Cindy is available for private events within her studio, in private homes and at third party locations.
Cindy has taught many friends to play mah jongg over the years and taught her children so that they could play with their grandmothers. There is nothing like being able to play a game across generations. Cindy has also taught at her synagogue and at multiple local libraries. Cindy's teaching style has evolved based on experience in multiple formal environments, including seminars for her staff and clients as a senior manager for a "Big 4" accounting firm, and children from ages 4 through 14 in an after school and weekend religious school setting. Cindy is also a trained children's yoga and mindfulness teacher having completed the 95-hour Yoga Alliance accredited Nesheemah Kids Yoga Teacher Training (NKYTT). All of these experiences have prepared Cindy to be an insightful and thorough teacher, encouraging questions and understanding of the game while stressing that the most important thing is to have fun.
Ryan Goldstein
Ryan has always had an eye for strategy, often winning various board games with the ability to see multiple moves ahead. He has been playing mah jongg with his family for approximately 10 years.
Ryan looks forward to helping at the studio, particularly with the youth classes. He has been working at Sports Universe since the age of 12, first refereeing at street hockey league games and later running classes and birthday parties for many many children. He is a beloved babysitter and has a true ability to engage children in activities.
Staff
