זוהר שמות — דף כט ע”ב

The mystery of the ten plagues: all ten signs performed by the Holy One went forth from the Mighty Hand, which overpowered all the levels of Egypt to confuse their understanding. Rabbi Shimon opens on the verse: Rachel weeps for her children. Leah and Rachel represent two worlds, the hidden and the revealed; Rachel stands at the crossroads and weeps over Israel’s exile since she is the mother of the revealed world. The Community of Israel is called Rachel, silent as a ewe when the nations dominate. In response to Rachel’s weeping, the Holy One punished Egypt with a great cry.