| Rashaya al-Foukhar | |
| Native Name Lang: | ar |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Pushpin Map: | Lebanon |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Map showing the location of Rashaya 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 |
Rashaya al-Foukhar, (ar|راشيا الفخار) is a municipality 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 Rashaya 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]
In 2014 Christians made up 97.81% of registered voters in Rashaya al-Foukhar. 49.31% of the voters were Greek Orthodox, 24.95% were Greek Catholics and 12.66% were Maronite Catholics.[5]
. Victor Guérin. Description Géographique Historique et Archéologique de la Palestine. 3: Galilee, pt. 2. 1880. L'Imprimerie Nationale. Paris. French.