The Tucuman province is located in the Northwestern region of the Argentine Republic. It is known as "The Garden of Argentina," owing to its dense rain forests, great rivers and beautiful mountains. It is no wonder that children grow up so happy here. And Purim time was outrageously happy for the Jewish children of Tucuman this year.

"This Purim we offered a whole lot to the local kids," says Mrs. Miriam Levy, head of the Gan Menachem Kindergarten program at the Tucuman Chabad House.

The first night Megillah reading and Purim party brought together some 130 members of the community, including many Gan Menachem toddlers and students from the Tzivot Hashem Talmud Torah. The house was packed and the noise to drown out Haman's name was incredible.

"The Lubavitch custom is to make noise only to blot out the 'Haman's with appellations and descriptions," says Chabad emissary to Tucuman Rabbi Daniel Maleh. "Since the kids get fewer opportunities to blot him out, they make each one count, believe me..."

The children prepared 250 Mishloach Manot packages, which they delivered to the local Jewish school students. As they were handing out the packages, the children warmly invited each recipient to join them at the daytime Purim party. That one began at the Chabad House and moved on to an amusement park. 150 kids showed up to munch on Haman Tashens, listen to Purim stories, sing along and, naturally, get on the free rides.

"I don't remember having so much fun in a long time," admits Rabbi Daniel Levy, who runs youth activities at the Tucuman Chabad House.

"Altogether we reached more than 1,000 local Jews this Purim," says Rabbi Maleh, "but the most important ones among them were the children."