History Of Rummikub

Rummikub was developed by the late Mr. Ephraim Hertzano back in the early thirties.

The first Rummikub sets were hand-made one at a time in Hertzano’s backyard by the immediate family. In the early fifties Rummikub was hawked door to door, and small shop keepers had to be convinced to take a game or two on consignment. This resulted in the steady germination of Rummikub’s reputation for outstanding play value and enjoyment which was spread by word of mouth.

Today Rummikub is known as the third best-selling staple family game in the world and the first best-selling tile number game. It is also Israel’s #1 export game!
It is estimated that 50 million Rummikub games were sold to date in 54 countries across 5 continents, printed in 26 languages.

When a game based on numbers is numbered among the world’s top games, you know you are playing with a hit! Rummikub offers you fun you can “count on”. Combining features of some of the most famous pastimes such as Mah-Jong, Rummy, Dominoes and Chess. Rummikub is a stimulating game requiring a large measure of strategy and a dose of luck.

Part of its appeal is also based on the fact that Rummikub defies all language barriers. Even though its instructions are presently translated into 26 languages, the role of all 106 tiles is universally understood.

Rummikub has been awarded “Game of the year” in:

Best selling game of 1977 - USA
Game of the year 1980 - Germany
Game of the year 1983 - Holland
Game of the year 1990 - Spain
Game of the year 1993 - Poland
Best Game Award 2005 – South Korea

Rummikub’s international success has resulted in formation of Rummikub Clubs and national tournaments in many countries. In 1991 Lemada Light Industries Ltd started a tradition and created the first World Rummikub Championship (WRC)

The world champion wins The Rummikub World Cup and a pair of round-the-world airline tickets.

Rummikub is the “flag ship” of Lemada Light Industries Ltd, established in 1978 by Mariana and Micha Hertzano, Ephraim Hertzano’s children.

The Lemada Light Industries Ltd factory is based in Arad – 25 km from the Dead Sea in the Negev Desert, occupying 6,000 sq. mtrs, employing about 120 people, working in 3 shifts and producing over 4 million games a year, mostly for export. The manufacturing process is performed in-house including: injection molding, compression molding, set up boxes, flat board line, pad printing, silk screen, hot stamping printing, and assembly lines. This self sustained operation comprises the latest state-of the-art machinery.

Rummikub is produced in 13 different editions.

The latest Rummikub edition – Rummikub XXL – featuring extra large numbers (200% lager than the numbers on the classic tiles).

The latest innovation is the Rummikub Start Right edition designed for preschoolers as the ultimate educational game.