The Jewish homeland, the land of milk and honey or the Holy Land—no matter what it’s called, it’s the land we love: Israel. Thousands of people from across the country and around the world converged in the heart of Washington, D.C., on June 1, 2008, to celebrate Israel@60: A Capital Celebration.

The experience I had making L’Chaim Israel is a journey I will always remember. (Special thanks to JVibe for telling me about the Washington, D.C., Jewish Film Festival’s student documentary contest.) I decided my documentary would answer the question, “What would you give Israel for its 60th birthday?” However, I asked this question with a twist: I interviewed Holocaust survivors to share their wishes and thoughts.