Exhibit 23(a) CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated November 13, 1998 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Xceed Inc. Included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1998, and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus which is part of such Registration Statement. /s/ Holtz Rubenstein & Co., LLP Holtz Rubenstein & Co., LLP Melville, New York June 25, 1999