Hamelech Hamishpat

I hope I am not out of my depth in this post.  It is hard to put into words.

The Talmud in Masechet Berachot records that we must change two berachot in the amidah beginning on Rosh Hashanah and concluding on Yom Kippur.   We change the beracha that ends "HaEl Hakadosh," the Holy God, to "Hamelech Hakadosh," the Holy King.   And we change the beracha that ends "melech ohev tzedaka u'mishpat", the King who loves tzedakah and justice, to "hamelech hamishpat."

There is much discussion in halacha about what happens if you say the year-long formula instead of the special changes.   However, I am more interested in "Hamelech Hamishpat."    What does this mean?  The Beit Yosef quotes the Rokeach (I think) as offering two explanations.  The second one is very interesting:   The King, who is Justice.    

We should not think, he says, that God's qualities are external to Him, as our qualities are.   (e.g. I, as a human being, can be just, and I can be forgiving.  But it is a quality of mine that could have been, or could yet be, otherwise).

The Torah speaks of God in anthropomorphic terms, as our Sages say, "Dibra Torah b'lashon b'nei adam," the Torah speaks in the language of human beings.   But God, though He is, in the literary sense, a "character" in the Torah, is infinitely above the descriptions that even the Torah gives Him.   Thus, God is not just;  God is Justice.   (But God is not only Justice).

We think of God as an infinitely powerful being who judges us on Rosh Hashanah.   But that is but one layer of our understanding.  This beracha, "Hamelech Hamishpat" adds another layer:  On Rosh Hashanah we are brought before God, who is not only just, but Justice.   And to be judged means to be measured up against Justice itself, Hamelech Hamishpat.