Zohar 1:219a

Jewish Mysticism
R. Isaac said- It is written, “as a happy mother of children, Hallelujah” (Ps. 113-9). The mother is known, but who are the children? R. Simeon said- It has been taught that the blessed holy One has two children, one male and the other female . . . and the mother hovers over them to nourish them. Thus it is written, “do not take the mother together with the children” (Deut. 22-6). It has been taught that people should not multiply their sins below for this results in the removal of the mother from her children. It is written, “She is your mother—do not uncover her nakedness” (Lev. 18-7). Wow to one who uncovers the nakedness! When people of the world repent and increase the merits before the blessed holy One, and the mother returns and covers her children, then she is called “repentance” (teshuvah). What is teshuvah? Teshuvah consists of the mother returning to her station, and then it is written, “as a happy mother of children,” the mother of the children most certainly. Therefore a person is not exempt from the obligation to procreate until he begets a son and a daughter.

Translated by Elliot Wolfson in “Fore/giveness on the Way- Nesting in the Womb of Response,” Graven Images- Studies in Culture, Law, and the Sacred 4 (1998)- 153-169.