Phoenix family find anti-Semitic graffiti around their home

Ari and Shoshana Simones, a young Jewish couple living off of Glendale Avenue near the State Route 51 say in the four years they've lived in their home, they've never been targeted.

They say someone spray-painted a swastika and the word "Jew" in black on their mailbox.

"My heart just kind of sunk and I was just sad and disgusted really," said Shoshana.

A neighbor tried to cover up the ugly message with paper, writing them a handwritten note to let them know what happened.

But the Simones say the reality is too disturbing to sweep under the rug.

"As Jews we are very aware of anti-Semitism, of bigotry and hate in general," said Ari.

They say this type of graffiti is especially painful because Ari's grandparents are Holocaust survivors.

Now they're sharing what happened, hoping to show others that this type of hate still exists.

"People need to know that there are people who are ignorant and hateful and have these feelings and do these types of things in the world, and hopefully that can be dispelled through awareness," said Ari.

They're not going to cover it up just yet. They say on Sunday morning they're inviting their community to come and repaint the mailbox in positive messages together.

"The word 'Jew' isn't a slur to me. I am a Jew. I'm proud to be a Jew, so maybe we'll add 'proud' over 'Jew' where it's written," said Shoshana.

There was more similar graffiti on the fence north of their home. But the fence is the property of the neighboring public elementary school. The Simones say they plan to call the school district to alert them to it.