Rabbi Yochanan Gordon, the son of  Melbourne-based Rabbi Yossi Gordon who has visited the state, studied in New York before being ordained as a Jewish rabbi and moving to Launceston with responsibility for the state.

He moved with his wife Rochel  and son Sholom, 2,  in December.

Rabbi Gordon said he had held six services at the synagogue in St John Street, which was consecrated in 1846 but has been rarely used for years, and runs religious classes plus cultural events at the city's Chabad House, a Jewish community centre.

He estimated there were 1000 Jewish families in Tasmania, although he only knew of about 200.

``I think the community is getting stronger,'' he said of the state's Jewish population.

``You have people who are becoming more and more committed to things (Judaism),'' he said.

``And the other thing you have are those who are becoming more and more assimilated.

``We want to teach people (Jews) to be proud of who they are.

``A lot of people are scared to let others know who they are due to anti-semitism.''

He said that better understanding among Jews and non-Jews alike was important.

``I think through Jews being proud of who they are and not being embarrassed by it, people around them will see it and they will be more understanding,'' Rabbi Gordon said.