In any normal year, summer is the time when thousands of Jews from America and around the world flow into Israel. Bar-Mitzvah tours in the Galilee, summer courses at Hebrew University, NFTY camp, birthright israel students- everyone is here. If you were walking down the Tel Aviv beach promenade last summer, you would have heard all languages but Hebrew. 2001 is going to be one of the poorest years for tourism ever. Israel hasn't seen such a difficult period in many years. The Tel Aviv promenade is empty. In multilingual Eilat, Hebrew has returned to be the one and only spoken language, and hotels all over the country are empty as they have never been.

Jews who come to visit Israel often bring up the debate of how politically involved they should be. Every Jew should feel he or she has a home in Israel no matter what happens in his home country. Yet, the question remains, if a Jew is living in the suburbs of Connecticut or on Long Island, should he or she have the power to influence the future of the territories or the peace process?

In my opinion, for those of us who live our lives here, raise our kids, and work and serve in the army ensuring the future of this country, Israel is and should be a part of all Jews lives. (or at least the lives of those Jews who wish to take part). All Jews should be able to say what they think is right for the country, acknowledging the right to act and to work for what they think should be happening here. Many Jews do more than just voice their opinions. They come to Israel, visit, study and donate money for cultural, educational and govermental instituions. Yet, when times are rough, we now witness a new phenomenon. Many diaspora Jews are canceling their visits, rejecting invitations to come to Israel, preferring to sit back and watch their beloved country struggle from afar. I feel that when Jews come to Israel only when it's convenient and cancel trips when travel seems risky, these Jews lose their right to voice their political opinions. What will happen when the situation cools down? Will these Jews be back on the plane with their opinions and advice? Will they come back to the universities and beaches, to election campaigns and tell us what to do and who to vote for?

As we Israelis look out for this country the whole year round, not only for our own safety, but for each and every Jew around the world, this is the time for Jews around the world to show us their support. Jews need to come to Israel now, to be here for the tourists who are not coming, show us that they truly care for this country's future and its people, and demonstrate their right to have an impact. Then, they can be sure we will listen to what they have to say.

Tidhar Wald is a 20-year-old Israeli soldier and a longtime friend and writer for JVibe.