Va’yigbah Hashem Tzevakos bamishpat v’hakel Hakadosh nikdash b’tzedakah. Hashem elevates His system of justice on High Holidays, suspending the normal tzedek rishon of immutable natural laws, evaluating us through tzedek sheini, a system of justice beyond our comprehension. Im tematzeh omek hadin, if Hashem squeezes out the depths of judgment moving from tzedek rishon to tzedek sheini, we realize how inadequate we are on Judgment Day and dependent on the mercy of Hashem.
The chazzan beseeches Hashem prior to Mussaf to convert our misdeeds into merits, to grant life and peace, mentioning ha’emes v’hashalom yihi’u. On this day when You engage in elevated tzedek, wipe away our iniquities though we are not deserving. May this be the year that the code words for the coming of Mashiach, ha’emes v’hashalom yihi’u, will be realized.