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Mystery Billionaire Lends Jet to Snow-Stranded Israeli Scouts

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Students from the Philadelphia and Washington D.C. chapters of Israeli Scouts in America stand in front of their chariot — a billionaire's private jet.

A Jewish billionaire, who asked to remain anonymous, volunteered his private jet to rescue 50 California-bound Israeli scouts and staff who were stranded in Philadelphia a day after a snowstorm grounded their planes on Feb. 13.

The local group, comprised of 16 high school students who are members of the Israeli Scouts in America and three staff counselors, were attempting to reach a national leadership convention in California.

“The students wait for this convention every year,” said Neta Burshtein, an Israeli shlicha working for the Center for Israel and Overseas branch of the Jewish Federation ofGreater Philadelphia. “They count down the days.”

However, on Feb. 13, blistering winter storms swept through the northeastern part of the country, leading to the cancellation of their flights.

Subsequent attempts to send the students on flights the next day failed as well.

“Everyone was so disappointed, there was no hope,” said Hadas Bar-Ad, a 16-year-old scout from Wynnewood.

But members of a troop from a chapter in Las Vegas decided to help their friends in Philadelphia by pursuing a long-shot solution. They approached a billionaire who has donated money to the organization in the past and asked if he would lend his private jet to the stranded group.

The donor agreed and sent his private jet to an airport in Baltimore to collect the Philadelphia group, who call themselves Shevet Paamon, the