| "And you shall be to Me a treasured nation (segulah) from among all the peoples" (Shemot 19:5).
Rashi explains the word segulah as a "beloved treasure"—a precious vessel filled with fine gems that kings store away. Similarly, Hashem tells Am Yisrael, "You shall be My treasure among the nations."
In Rebbe Nachman's Stories, the Fifth Story of the "Prince Made of Precious Gems," we read how a tzaddik gave the king and queen a cup of wine infused with the dust of all the world's precious stones, promising that they would have a son entirely made of gemstones.
Every Jew, no matter who he is, is made of precious gems. However, sometimes revealing that inner worth requires passing through difficult and painful challenges. The one thing that must always accompany us on this journey of self-discovery is tefillah—prayer—and emunah—faith.
This is what sets us apart from the other nations: our unwavering faith in Hashem even when we don't see results. The constant tefillah that each of us is meant to engage in, known as hisbodedus, is how we reveal our inner essence—that we are, indeed, made of precious gems. We must never despair, but instead continue to pray and pray, knowing that no prayer ever goes unanswered.
In the story, the tzaddik never stopped davening, even when it seemed that the promised child was not made of gems. In the end, it became clear that he was!
So too, we must remember the great zechus we have to be Am Segulah. The very meaning of the word segulah is something beyond logic and understanding—it only connects when one has emunah.
May we merit to believe in the power of our tefillos and to persevere, even when we don't see immediate results. Because in the end, we will see the truth—we are all made of precious gems!
Shabbat Shalom | 
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