By: Sandy Eller

It was a true milestone moment for the graduates of Agudath Israel of America’s COPE Education Services’ CPA accounting program as they celebrated the culmination of a 22 month course of academic study, much of it taking place during a pandemic that posed numerous unprecedented challenges.

Each of the approximately 60 graduates had previously completed COPE’s junior accounting program and they were joined at the commencement by their families and the faculty members who guided them through their nearly two year-long journey towards a promising career and the prospect of financial stability. A lineup of distinguished speakers that included Agudath Israel of America executive vice president Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Agudah board of trustees member Leon Goldenberg and the renowned Rabbi Paysach Krohn inspired the graduates as they begin writing the next chapter in their careers.

Addressing the graduates of the 24th men’s cohort, student Aron Lefkowitz extended his gratitude to COPE Educational Service’s director Rabbi Daniel Baumann for not only teaching accounting, but actually transforming the entire group into accountants.

“You didn’t just give over the knowledge, you gave us over the profession with enthusiasm and energy so that we should love and have passion for our professions,” said Mr. Lefkowitz.

Graduate Yehuda Schlesinger shared how he made the leap from being in kollel full time to a COPE student within a matter of hours, a reality that forced him to acclimate to English lectures and learn basics like the meaning of the word “asset” and how to do a Google search. Having broadened his knowledge through the CES coursework, Mr. Schlesinger has already trained two bookkeepers and he credited his professors for turning him into a professional.

“The COPE program which we have now accomplished is an amazing toolbox which we could use for our entire life,” noted Mr. Schlesinger. “The best place we could have invested is in ourselves.”

The graduates of the 25th women’s cohort heard from two of their classmates who observed that those completing COPE’s intensive CPA-track program typically find themselves in an enviable position because of the program’s stellar reputation, high level content and professionalism.

“Completing the COPE program comes with the feeling of being eminently capable of practicing in the accounting profession,” said one of the speakers. “Our training is unsurpassed. We have the best jobs. We don’t need to worry about the career ahead of us – COPE has provided us with everything we need.”

COPE has distinguished itself in numerous ways for nearly fifty years with its proven track record for academic excellence, rigorous standards and commitment to Torah values, serving the community’s needs in a variety of ways. Thousands of students have taken COPE’s accounting courses and acquired a broad knowledge of the fundamentals of business, with many coming in as complete novices but quickly finding themselves entranced by accounting and the world of business and graduating with marketable skills.

“The hallmark of our program is attaining marketable skills and maintaining the focus on the ultimate goal of earning a parnassa to help support a life of avodas Hashem,” said Rabbi Baumann.

To learn more about COPE or to enroll in COPE’s Junior Accounting/Business Essentials class, the first step towards a lucrative career in accounting, call 718-506-0500 x218, email [email protected] or visit them online at www.COPEeducation.com. Separate day and night classes are available for men and women, with men’s day classes starting on July 6th and November 5th, men’s night classes starting on October 5th and women’s day and night classes starting on October 4th.

One of the most impactful of all of Agudah’s programs is the COPE Junior Accounting program. And the recent graduation of its latest cohort demonstrated that the impact is now global, with a special guest who flew in from Eretz Yisroel to attend.

Mordechai Haberfeld lives in Yerushalayim. But, via Zoom, he joined the Junior Accounting program – one of the many new students who can now attend, even if they don’t live in Brooklyn.

Mordechai couldn’t miss his own graduation, so a quick plane journey, a taxi from the airport, and there he was – addressing the crowded auditorium as student representative of the graduating class. He expressed his appreciation to the teaching staff for their clear, concise and highly professional presentations and their concern for each student’s success.

Mordechai’s message to his classmates was that we are taught that humanity was not created perfect so that every person, working on perfecting themselves, can thereby come closer to Hashem. When we take courses that will enable us to support our family as ehrliche yidden, we are perfecting ourselves, coming closer to Hashem. COPE, he said, was very effective in helping him attain the skills to – with Hashem’s help! – help him obtain high-level employment and have success with parnassah.

COPE’s 3 ½ month Junior Accounting/Business Essentials Program is taught by expert instructors who make the learning a real-life hands-on experience that puts you ahead in your job search, and has been highly successful in helping individuals fast-track to employment that offers future career opportunities.

The next men’s day class starts July 5, 2021, and the Women’s class starts on October 4, 2021.

For more information, or to register, please call Aaron Halpern at COPE: 718-506-0500, extension 215, or go to COPEeducation.com for more information.

• 7 placement directors
• Decades of relationships with firms
• PCS/ Agudath Israel vast network

Men’s Day Class Starting March 15 and Women’s Evening Class Starting April 6

Are you entering the work force? Are you trying to update your business and professional skills? Are you trying to increase your capabilities? You can go to a regular college program, but that will take you four years. Instead, choose Agudah’s COPE division Junior Accounting Course.

COPE’s three-and-a-half months long intensive junior accounting course is custom designed for individuals with little or no experience in business or accounting. Students will thoroughly learn the accounting cycle as well as accounting for all types of business. Classes are taught by a staff of instructors who are hand-picked for their real-world experience and dedication to helping students learn. In addition, this course provides the skills and knowledge for immediate job entry. To help students become more marketable, popular accounting software such as QuickBooks is taught. The starting salaries for COPE Institute’s graduates are between $45,000 and $55,000 with excellent advancement opportunities. Also, over 90% of graduates have been successfully placed in jobs. Upon completion of the junior accounting course students can continue with a 22 month evening program that will earn students a Bachelor Degree and enable them to sit for the CPA exam.

The next cohorts of junior accounting students will begin on March 15th for men’s day classes. Women’s night classes will be starting April 6. To find out more, call 718-506-0500, extension 208; email [email protected]; or text COPE to 718-578-4558.

COPE, a division of Agudas Yisroel, has, for years, been providing education and job skills to men and women in our communities.