Cerebral palsy doesn’t keep youth from a milestone in his faith

Friday, Jan. 4, 2002 | 4:52 a.m.

An old Hasidic story tells of a young boy who sat in the back of a temple repeating the first four letters of the Hebrew alphabet and whistling.

The rabbi asked the boy why he was disturbing the prayers of others, and the boy said: "I cannot read and I don't know the words to the songs. But God is smart and He can turn the letters into the words and my whistling into the music."

The rabbi told the congregation that the boy's prayers were the most sincere of all because they came straight from his heart.

Rabbi Sanford Axselrad of Congregation Ner Tamid says the centuries-old story most exemplifies the faith of 13-year-old Las Vegan Jason Giancaspro, who at his bar mitzvah today becomes a man in the eyes of his religion.

Long afflicted with cerebral palsy, Giancaspro has few motor skills. He cannot recite the first four letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and he cannot even whistle the musical prayers, though he does enjoy clapping to the music.

But through the national award-winning Special Needs Education Program offered by Congregation Ner Tamid, Giancaspro has earned the right to celebrate one of the most sacred rites of his faith.

He is one of more than 30 Las Vegas children -- who suffer from conditions including cerebral palsy, Tourette's syndrome, dyslexia and other disabilities -- who in the past four years have completed the program that is unique to Las Vegas.

"Our temple is about social action extended into the community," Akselrad said. "We look at a child's ability and special needs, and we offer this program to children who belong to any synagogue in town."

Today, from his wheelchair at the bimah (alter), Giancaspro, a seventh grader at Garside Middle School, will receive the admiration of his parents, sisters Shelby and Gabrielle and 75 to 100 friends and relatives.

He will be honored with readings from the Torah (holy scrolls) and will be presented with the tallis (fringed prayer shawl) that his grandparents bought years ago in Israel, hoping that one day Jason would overcome his disabilities to reach this milestone.

Jacqueline "Jackie" Fleekop, director of education for Congregation Ner Tamid, is the force behind the special needs program that last year won the coveted Irving J. Fain Social Action Award from the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism.

"Our program demonstrates that not every child is perfect, but you don't have to be perfect to be loved," said Fleekop, noting that the special children are mainstreamed into classes with children who do not have disabilities -- children who help those such as Giancaspro succeed.

Eric Fleekop, Jacqueline's 17-year-old son and a tutor for Giancaspro and seven previous graduates of the program, said helping special needs kids gives him a feeling of great satisfaction.

"Jason has such a love for life, and he enjoys coming to temple and meeting his challenges," said Eric, a senior at Durango High School. "One of our most rewarding moments came when we went over and over the Sh'ma (a prayer) and at one point Jason started to hum part of it.

"There is no pressure with this because not much is expected of these kids, so whatever they learn is much more than was ever hoped."

Jason's mother, Susan Giancaspro, a teacher at Rex Bell Elementary School, and his father, Joseph Giancaspro, chef and owner of The Custom Cook catering business, have worked hard to give their first-born child as normal a life as possible.

"We have always kept a positive outlook," said Susan Giancaspro, who moved her family to Las Vegas from New Jersey seven years ago. "We have always tried to treat Jason as if he was not afflicted."

But the family has persevered through tough times for Jason, who also was born without an esophagus.

"When he was born I saw him in the intensive care unit, and little was thought about him reaching 13 or a Bar Mitzvah, but rather about what each day would bring," said Joseph Giancaspro, an Italian-American who years ago converted to Judaism, his wife's faith.

"So, when you look at where Jason is now compared to then, this is such an accomplishment and it is such a great moment for his entire family."

During rehearsal for Jason's Bar Mitzvah Thursday, Akselrad was noticeably moved when Jason out of the blue uttered his first sentence in Hebrew: "Baruch Ata (Blessed are You, God)."

"That Jason said anything was wonderful and unexpected," Axselrad said, "but that he offered praise to God shows that Jason truly understands what it means to be Jewish."