Many people associate Timberlands, the peanut-butter brown colored work boots, with two people, construction workers or rappers. The magic behind Timberlands stretches back over 90 years when the company started as “The Abington Shoe Company” in 1918. Nathan Swartz, a Jewish shoe-maker who worked for Abington from the begining, bought half of the company in 1952. He then purchased the remaining half for full ownership in 1955 with his two sons.

After popularity of the boots grew, the Swartz family officially changed the name from “The Abington Shoe Company” to “Timberland” in 1973. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Timberland.

Timberland is now 3 generations strong and is led by, CEO Jeffery Swartz, grandson of Nathan Swartz. Jeffery Swartz, known for his dedication to corporate social responsibility, fights for workers rights both domestically and internationally.

Swartz has contributed to Forbes and continues to speak on the topic of CSR.

According to Minyanville.com, “Swartz rises every day at 4 a.m. to read Scriptures, and says that religious ideals and values guide his decisions.”

“I can’t show you the Scripture that relates to the rights of a worker, but I can show you text that insists upon treating others with dignity,” he says. “It says in the Hebrew Bible one time that you should love your neighbor as yourself, but it says dozens of times that you shall treat the stranger with dignity.”

Though the trend of baggy jeans and “Tims” hasn’t been hot since 2007… we still feel the need to honor The Jewish Fam Behind Timerbland…

…So here are 6 rap songs that mention them!

1. Nelly “Pimp Juice”

2. Black eyed peas “my style’

3. twista “higher”

4. the fugees “family business

5. Sean kingston “i’m at war”

6. lady sovereign “The Battle”

akaplan@jstylemagazine.com