Rabbi Raphael Pinto was the son of Rabbi Chaim Pinto of Casablanca, known as Chaim Pinto Hakatan (5625-5698, 1855-1937), who was himself the grandson of Rabbi Chaim Pinto Hagadol of Mogador.

A man of great piety, wholly devoted to the service of G-d and the performance of mitzvot, he drew many people close. Jews and Arabs alike came to him for comfort and blessing. Those who came to pray or light candles, weighed down by hardship, were warmly received; he would usually offer them a glass of mahia and tell them stories of the tzaddikim and the miracles they had performed.

He taught the pilgrims that it was forbidden to display sadness in the home of Rabbi Chaim Pinto, because faith grows through joy. His house was plain in appearance but known for the teaching that came out of it, and the quality most evident there was modesty.

According to Hevrat Pinto, shortly before his passing Rabbi Chaim Pinto gathered his sons to bless them and wept when he came to Rabbi Raphael, foretelling that he would suffer a terrible death. In 1980, intruders broke into his home at night, beat him savagely with an iron bar and robbed him; after a week of terrible suffering, Rabbi Raphael returned his soul to his Maker.