SAN DIEGO, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Traditionally, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated by playing games like "Spin the Dreidel." But this year, MahjongTime.com is adding a new kind of spin, hosting the first ever online Hanukkah Mahjong Tournament, with cash prizes for the winners.

The competition starts at sundown on December 16, and runs for the remaining span of Hanukkah itself. The four players left at the Final Table at sundown on December 23 will win cash prizes up to $2,000.

Game registration is free of charge to all MahjongTime.com subscribers. (For general subscription, gift-subscription and registration information, go to http://www.MahjongTime.com.)

MahjongTime.com, the world's largest online mahjong community, is coming fresh off the huge success of their World Online Mahjong Championship in October, where players competed in both the Hong Kong Rules and Chinese Official Rules versions of the game. As a departure, the Hanukkah Mahjong Tournament will be played according to the American Rules, the version that the American Jewish community has made widely popular since the 1920s.

William Sutjiadi, founder and CEO of MahjongTime commented, "We are thrilled to introduce the American Rules variety to our subscribers in honor of Hanukkah, and we are so pleased to have Rabbi Shlomo Schwartz of Los Angeles, California, to help kick off our competition with his holiday blessings."

Every registered player will receive a commemorative 2006 Hanukkah Mahjong tile. To motivate community involvement, MahjongTime.com will also grant an automated mahjong table to the Jewish Community Center that has the most participants registered in the Tournament.

The competition officially begins on December 16 at sundown in each time zone, and the winners will be announced on December 23 at sundown. Go to http://www.MahjongTime.com and click on the Hanukkah Tournament button to register and get complete game rules and details. No downloads are required.

For more information visit http://www.MahjongTime.com.