Welcome to the 2025 Logic Puzzle Contest!
Send in your answers to get points. The top three puzzlers at the end of year will get gift cards PLUS ultimate bragging rights.
Easy: 10 POINTS
Medium: 20 POINTS
Hard: 30 POINTS
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January 2025: Easy Level
The Beth Israel Synagogue recently hired five new teachers for their growing Hebrew school, all of whom had been previously employed. Use the clues below to link the NAME of each new teacher with his or her prior JOB, and the SUBJECT they will now be teaching.
SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS IN FIVE LINES SEPARATED BY COMMAS
(e.g., NAME, JOB. SUBJECT).
NAME JOB SUBJECT
MR. AARON
MR. COHEN
MS. DUBIN
MS. FOX
MR. GOLD
JOBS: BOUNCER, TRAINER, MODEL, SALESPERSON, ACCOUNTANT
SUBJECTS: Hebrew READING, TRANSLATION, Jewish PRAYERS, Jewish HOLIDAYS, TORAH.
CLUES:
1. The former ACCOUNTANT who will be teaching TORAH is neither MR. COHEN nor MS. DUBIN.
2. MR. AARON (who does not teach either TRANSLATION or PRAYERS) was employed as a BOUNCER at a local bar.
3. MS. FOX, who will be teaching Jewish HOLIDAYS never worked as either a TRAINER, or as a MODEL.
4. MR. COHEN will not be teaching Jewish PRAYERS.
5. The former MODEL does not teach TRANSLATION.
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January 2025: Medium Level
Esau has left Seir and has been wandering around the world for centuries, finally landing in New York City. Much to his surprise he learned that he had three cousins (children of Ishmael) and two siblings, each living in a different New York Borough. He invited them all to join him for dinner, where each had a question for him related to his twin brother Jacob.
Use the clues below to link the NAME of each relative with the BOROUGH where he or she is living, each one’s RELATION to Esau, and the QUESTION each had asked.
SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS IN FIVE LINES, SEPARATED BY COMMAS
(e.g., NAME, BOROUGH, RELATION, QUESTION)
NAME BOROUGH RELATION QUESTION
ABE
BETH
CALEB
DAVID
ESTHER
BOROUGH: BRONX, BROOKLYN, MANHATTEN, QUEENS, STATEN ISLAND
RELATION: COUSIN, COUSIN, COUSIN, SIBLING, SIBLING
QUESTION: COAT, DINA, ISRAEL, SONS, YEARS
CLUES:
1. ABE, who does not live in BROOKLYN, is not the one who seemed curious about all of Jacob’s SONS. ESTHER is a COUSIN; she does not live in either the BRONX or BROOKLYN.
2. CALEB and his sister were both born to Esau’s parents after he and Jacob had left the family. CALEB did not ask about DINA.
3. DAVID, who lives in MANHATTEN, was the person who was very interested in learning about the twelve SONS of his cousin Jacob; BETH does not live in the BRONX.
4. The lady living in STATEN ISLAND asked Esau about what
became of DINA.
5. ABE does not live in QUEENS; BETH was fascinated to learn the details of the multi-color coat, which Jacob gave to Joseph.
6. ABE was not the one who questioned ESAU on the number of YEARS that Jacob was away from the home where he was born.
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January 2025: Hard Level
Five student Rabbis meet regularly at their favorite coffee shop. Their routine is set: same time, same drink, same muffin, same table. However, their conversations vary from week to week. Use the clues below to link the NAME of each person with his or her favorite COFFE, MUFFIN, and the TOPICS which were discussed this morning.
SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS IN FIVE LINES, SEPARATED BY COMMAS
(e.g., NAME, COFFEE, MUFFINS, TOPIC).
NAME COFFEE MUFFINS TOPIC
BETSY
CALEB
MINDY
RICH
SETH
COFFEE: CAPPUCCINO, EXPRESSO, FLAT WHITE, ICED, LATTE
MUFFIN: BLUEBERRY, CHOCOLATE, CRANBERRY, LEMON, RASPBERRY
TOPIC: ESAU, HAFTARA, HALAKHA, KING DAVID, QUEEN ESTHER
Clues:
1. The first thing that Caleb does at the coffee shop is to order his RASPBERRY muffin.
2. Betsy begins the conversation questioning why only select Prophets are included in the HAFTARA; she is not a fan of Cappuccino.
3. The person who regularly drinks ICED coffee does not understand why QUEEN ESTHER is such an important individual in the Talmud.
4. Neither Rich nor Mindy has any desire to talk about HALAKHA. Mindy always orders FLAT WHITE coffee.
5. One Student Rabbi always orders a LEMON muffin with an accompanying CAPPUCCINO.
6. Seth, who is beyond talking about Queen Esther, never orders either a LEMON or CHOCOLATE muffin. A CRANBERRY muffin is the
favorite of the person who Seth believes is obsessed with the Torah story of ESAU.
7. Neither Caleb nor Betsy drink LATTEs.
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Happy Puzzling!
Don’t forget to submit your answers here to get your points!
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