Ben-Yehuda Street

Ben-Yehuda Street Review

Most of the street is an open-air pedestrian mall, in the heart of the downtown, forming a triangle with King George Street and Jaffa Street. It is known locally as the Midrachov, a term concocted from two Hebrew words: midracha (sidewalk) and rechov (street). The street is named after the brilliant linguist Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, who in the late 19th century almost single-handedly revived Hebrew as a modern spoken language; he would have liked the clever new word. Cafés have tables out on the cobblestones; vendors display cheap, arty items like funky jewelry and prints; and buskers are usually out in good weather, playing tunes old and new. It's a great place to sip coffee or munch falafel and watch the passing crowd.