Before the era of widespread photography, before 770 overflowed with thousands of Chassidim and visitors, Tishrei with the Rebbe looked very different. Cameras were scarce, crowds were smaller, and every photograph was a precious rarity.

Now, through the rediscovery of old film and JEM’s ongoing archival efforts, a remarkable new collection brings Tishrei of the late 1960s and early 1970s to light.

In 1966, Rabbi Chaim Boruch Halberstam arrived in New York and quietly began capturing  scenes of Crown Heights and 770 using a tiny Minox camera that inconspicuously fit in the palm of his hand. 

For decades, these rolls of film remained largely unseen. Recently, dozens of these miniature negatives were rediscovered. Measuring as little as eight millimeters wide, smaller than a fingernail, the fragile frames posed a unique challenge. Many were scratched, faded, or warped by time.

Over the past month, the JEM team undertook a meticulous process to bring these photographs back to life. Each negative was stabilized, scanned at ultra-high resolution, and carefully restored to preserve the authenticity of every image. 

Each photograph was then researched to identify precise dates, locations, and faces. The result is a breathtaking window into a formative era of Lubavitch history.

Among the Highlights:

• The Rebbe’s Motzei Yom Kippur meal in the Previous Rebbe’s apartment
• Farbrengens and Kos Shel Bracha distribution in the large sukkah behind 770
• Rare photos from Israeli President Zalman Shazar’s late-night visit to the Rebbe, 1971

[View the full gallery here]

Special thanks to Rabbis Mendel Gourarie, Motti Hazan, and Memkeh Schmukler for their dedicated work on this project.

Help JEM restore and publish more treasures like this by becoming a member. JEM.tv/membership 

*Please note: Despite our best efforts, some images may appear unclear due to the quality of the original source material.