| Rachaya Al Foukhar | |
| Native Name Lang: | ar |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Lebanon |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Map showing the location of Rachaya Al Foukhar within Lebanon |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within Lebanon |
| Coordinates: | 33.3533°N 35.6672°W |
| Grid Position: | 148/157 L |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  |
| Subdivision Type1: | Governorate |
| Subdivision Name1: | Nabatieh Governorate |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Hasbaya District |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | EET |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | EEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +3 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | +961 |
Rachaya Al Foukhar (also spelled Rashaya Al Foukhar, Arabic: راشيا الفخار) is a Lebanese village in the district of Hasbaya in the Nabatiye Governorate in southern Lebanon. It is located on the western slopes of Mount Hermon at an altitude starting at 750 m with the highest summit being at 1,250 m. The population is Greek Orthodox.
In 1838, during the Ottoman era, Eli Smith noted the population of Rachaya Al Foukhar as being "Greek" Christians.[1]
In 1852 Edward Robinson noted: "The village is celebrated for its pottery; for the manufacture of which it is one of the chief seats. There are many large dome-shaped furnaces for burning of ware; and many specimens were standing outside of the houses [..], tall jars, and the like. This pottery is sent around to all the fairs of the country, and far into the Hauran; as also to Hums and Hamah."[2]
In 1875, Victor Guérin found here a town with 700 inhabitants, mostly "Schismatic Greek". He also noted the pottery production, and that there was a small Protestant mission in the place.[3]
In 1990, U.S missionary William Robinson was killed here by masked gunmen.[4]
. Victor Guérin. Description Géographique Historique et Archéologique de la Palestine. 3: Galilee, pt. 2. 1880. L'Imprimerie Nationale. Paris. French.