The Sar Sholom of Belz said that “Der velt zugt – the oilem says that to relate tales of the Ba’al Shem Tov on Motzo’ei Shabbos is a segula for parnossa, and to relate tales of the Rebbe Reb Melech of Lizhensk is a segula for Yiras Shomayim. And I say that this is wrong on three counts: not just on Motzo’ei Shabbos, but anytime; not just a segula for parnossa, but for all good things; and not just stories about the Ba’al Shem or the Rebbe Reb Melech, but about all the Tzaddikim – even about me! (Besoros Tovos p. 8a)
In Otzar Yisrael the story is told how the Belzer Rebbe’s gabbai laughed at hearing the above segula, and the Sar Sholom explained why and how this segula works: When we speak about these Tzaddikim they have great satisfaction and pleasure in the World of Truth. Yet they do not wish to accept this joy for free, for such is known as the “bread of shame”. They therefore pay us back by sending down an influx of shefa and blessings such as parnossa and Yiras Shomayim – sustenance and fear of heaven – and all manners of yeshuos.”
