Tu Bishvat – Seven Species: Figs

“The guardian of the fig tree will eat its fruit, and the guardian of his master will be honored.” (Proverbs 27:18)  Torah is compared to a fig because each fig ripens at its own pace. We pick the figs one at a time off the tree. So too, each of us “ripens” in Torah at our individual pace. (Bamidbar Rabbah 12:11)

Only one who “guards the figs,” pays attention to each individual idea and student, appreciating the specific nature of each, will be guarded by his mind, as in, “Therefore I will appoint you as the permanent guardian of my head. (Samuel I 28:2) – Commentary of the Vilna Gaon to Proverbs