A former executive director at Adat Ari El, a prominent Los Angeles synagogue, is accused of embezzling between $300,000 and $400,000 to fund alleged substance and gambling addictions. The synagogue filed a civil complaint alleging Eric Nicastro, who led the institution for 11 years, misappropriated funds for personal benefit during his tenure, which concluded in 2025.
Nicastro's wife, interior designer Jessica Alpert, has also been named in the lawsuit. Officials claim some of the embezzled funds were deposited into their joint account and subsequently spent. Adat Ari El alleges Nicastro also stole $15,000 in cash from the synagogue's safe.
According to a police warrant obtained by the Daily Mail, Nicastro admitted during a July 2025 Zoom meeting with colleagues that he was a "sick person" plagued by drug and gambling addictions. He reportedly stated he wanted an accurate accounting completed to "do right by the community" but resigned days later on July 25, 2025.
Investigators believe Nicastro created fraudulent invoices for services and expenses, pocketing reimbursed funds. One alleged instance involved an $85,000 invoice for Zoom Recreation, a playground equipment manufacturer, for an order the synagogue reportedly never placed. Other alleged fraudulent invoices pertained to equipment, chairs, playground materials, and services from various vendors.
Alpert, who filed for divorce in April 2025, has denied the allegations. Her legal filing states she was never an employee of Adat Ari El and argues that under their divorce judgment, she is protected from liabilities connected to her former husband's employment. The couple, married for 14 years and with two children, finalized their divorce on April 15, with Nicastro ordered to undergo substance abuse treatment and breathalyzer tests before and during visitations with their children.
Adat Ari El, which boasts approximately 800 member households and has been supported by figures like actors Joshua Malina and Mayim Bialik, is one of the oldest synagogues in the Valley Village area of Los Angeles. Nicastro earned an annual salary of $215,000 before his departure.
The synagogue officials noticed Nicastro was "consistently non-compliant" with providing proper invoices around November 2024. When Nicastro went on medical leave in April 2025, senior staff and leadership began reviewing his emails to manage daily operations, uncovering the alleged scheme.
During his tenure, Nicastro also implemented a "give-what-you-can" membership model in 2018, replacing traditional levels to make the synagogue more accessible, a move reportedly intended to counteract declining membership.
Nicastro and Alpert have not been criminally charged. The civil lawsuit is ongoing.