New Castle, NY – In recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month, New York State Senator Pete Harckham honored three distinguished residents from the 40th Senate District—Michele Gregson, Paul Hahn, and Richard Masur—for their contributions in uplifting others and supporting their communities.

“New York State is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, so the Jewish American story is very much the New York story,” said Harckham. “As we face a troubling rise in antisemitism, it’s more important than ever to celebrate those who contribute to the rich, diverse history of our state and the Hudson Valley specifically. These three individuals are exemplary figures, and I am proud to honor and congratulate Michele Gregson, Paul Hahn, and Richard Masur for their tireless efforts to educate, connect, and uplift others.”

The commemorative ceremony was held on Sunday, May 17, at New Castle Town Hall and featured the presentation of official New York State Senate proclamations. Senator Harckham was joined by New Castle Town Supervisor Vicky Tipp, Council Member Jennifer Naparstek Klein, Town Clerk Christina Papes and the honorees’ friends and families. The ceremony aired live on Facebook; click here to see a video of the event.

In addition to her distinguished career in communications consulting, Michele Gregson, a Chappaqua resident, serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Westchester Jewish Council as Secretary and Chair of Communications, helping to strengthen connections within the Jewish community. She is also a leader within the UJA-Federation of New York, where she has chaired the Westchester Women committee and served on the Executive Board of Women’s Philanthropy.

A dedicated community organizer and advocate for the arts, Gregson founded the Facebook group Jewish Women of Westchester, as well as Friends of the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, and chairs the Art & Culture Committee in New Castle. She has also advised the Chappaqua Central School District on cultural enrichment programs and served as a local alumni recruiter for the University of Michigan.

“I am very fortunate to be able to have a long successful career and then follow my passion in philanthropy and devote my time to the things that are really meaningful to me,” said Gregson. “The great thing about living in Westchester is that it is very community-based, and you get a real sense that you can make a difference in your own backyard; and the people you meet along the way enhance your life in a way you never thought possible. I want to thank my husband and son for their love, patience and support over the many years I have been doing my part to help repair the world. In accepting this recognition, I do so acknowledging that I stand on the shoulders of so many others who I work with every day and who have come before me.”

A Somers resident, Paul Hahn immigrated to the U.S. from Czechoslovakia in 1950 and built a distinguished legal career after working as a teacher while earning his law degree. Admitted to practice in 1977, he served with the United States Small Business Administration and as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York before representing commercial financial institutions. A longtime leader in the Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys, he served on its board for more than 30 years and was president in the 1990s. 

After moving to Heritage Hills in 2016, Hahn and his wife joined the Hebrew Congregation of Somers, where he has served as president for more than three years, applying his legal and financial expertise to strengthen the congregation and support its continued growth.

“I am grateful to Senator Harckham for his recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month in the hopes that this may contribute in some small way to a greater comprehension by the public of the significant contributions of Jewish Americans to all aspects of American life and culture,” said Hahn. “Personally, I am humbled by this recognition. I had never intended to be active in any synagogue, much less the president of Hebrew Congregation of Somers. It was something completely out of character, but the need arose and I felt a responsibility to apply my work experience to contribute and help keep what is the only Reconstructionist Synagogue in Northern Westchester open and help it to flourish.”

Croton-on-Hudson resident Richard Masur is an acclaimed actor and director whose career spans Broadway, television, and more than 60 feature films, including Risky Business, My Girl, and The Thing, as well as TV series such as Transparent and Orange is the New Black. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, he has also earned award nominations for his directing work, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film and a Directors Guild of America Award nomination.

A longtime leader in performers’ advocacy, Masur served on the board and as National President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1995 to 1999. He later helped advocate for the merger of SAG and AFTRA and currently serves on the New York board of SAG-AFTRA. Masur is also a founding member of the Motion Picture & Television Fund and has served since 1998 on the National Film Preservation Board.

“I was raised in a very non-practicing Jewish household, but I was raised with one very important element of Judaism, which is tikkun olam,” said Masur. “Not that it was ever expressed in those terms, but the idea of service, the idea of doing for others, the idea of getting involved and making a difference was instilled in me. I have been lucky in my life to come into contact with many, many people, including my first supporter and mentor, a man named Norman Lear, who embodied everything that everyone is talking about and really set an example for so many of us.”

Jewish American Heritage Month, observed each May, honors the lasting contributions of Jewish Americans to the history and culture of the United States.