"On the Day of Atonement the Israelites are as ministering angels." ~~ Pirqe Derabbi Eliezer
"Thou hast loved us, taken pleasure in us, and exalted us above all tongues. Thou hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, brought us near to Thy service, and called us by Thy great and holy Name." ~~ Prayer for Festivals
"To eat and drink on a festival in the company of your family without providing for the poor and distressed, is not “the joy of the commandment” but the joy of your stomach. It is a disgrace." ~~ Maimonides
"Every Jew must either give or take charity for Passover." ~~ Shalom Aleichem
"Moses ordained that Jews be addressed each holiday on the subject of that holiday, and he said to Israel: if you do this, it will be as if you established God’s sovereignty." ~~ Midrash Abkir, Yalkut Shimoni #408
"Even if all other festivals vanish, not so the Day of Atonement." ~~ Safra
"The Sabbaths are for rest and the festivals for joy, not for fasting and weeping and crying." ~~ Maimonides
"Who lodges a scholar in his home is as one offering first-fruits [Shavuot] in the Temple. " ~~ Leviticus (Vayikra) R.