The farbrengen of 11 Nissan 5732 (1972) stands as one of the most memorable birthday farbrengens of the Rebbe’s leadership.
And until now, one that was incomplete on video.
Marking the Rebbe’s 70th birthday, it was a true milestone. In the days leading up to it, a wide range of distinguished guests and well-wishers visited, including renowned author Herman Wouk and Yitzchak Rabin, then Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, bringing birthday greetings from some of the most important political figures of the time.
Chassidim from around the world flocked to Crown Heights to be part of the occasion. During the farbrengen, the Rebbe famously spoke about the idea of not retiring, and introduced the initiative to establish at least 71 new institutions, laying the groundwork for the next generation of Chabad houses worldwide.
The farbrengen concluded on a high note, with the Rebbe standing and enthusiastically encouraging the singing of the chassidim.
One of JEM’s earliest produced farbrengens, it has become a staple in yeshivos and homes worldwide ahead of Yud Alef Nissan, giving thousands the opportunity to relive and experience the Rebbe’s birthday together with him.
Yet for over three decades, the final hour was missing.
The farbrengen, captured on ½ inch reel, was recorded over five reels. In 1994, as the early stages of a post-Gimmel Tammuz JEM began to take shape, efforts were made to digitize the footage and make it available to the public. However, the fifth and final reel was in unusable condition. The restoration team pulled out all the stops, using professional restoration companies to try and improve the tape, but all attempts failed.
During the movement between various restoration facilities, the damaged reel was separated from the collection.
And so, for over thirty years, the farbrengen has remained incomplete.
During ongoing archival research, Rabbi Motti Hazan of the JEM Archive team managed to locate a surviving copy of this long lost footage. Together with other archival material, the entire farbrengen is now collected aside from one brief gap of approximately four minutes.
While efforts continue to make an even higher-quality version available, we’re releasing this raw footage immediately so you can experience the complete 70th birthday farbrengen in time for Yud Alef Nissan.
In a time when so many farbrengens on video are already available, it’s a rare opportunity in 2026 for a “new” release.
As we once again celebrate the Rebbe’s birthday, here’s the last hour of the farbrengen:
https://bit.ly/11Nissan5732Farbrengen
To watch Part 1 of the fabrengen: https://videos.jem.tv/video-player?produced=715
Special thanks to Rabbis Mendel Gourarie, Memkeh Schmukler, and Yossi Wolowik of the JEM Archive Team for their work in ensuring this extended version of the farbrengen be published in time for Yud Alef Nissan.
wow thats amazing where so thankful to the rebbe for giving us that farbrengen