His father, Emmanuel Salem, was a well known lawyer who dealt with international problems while his mother was Fortunée Salem. Raphaël was brought up in a truly international atmosphere for he lived in the Ottoman Empire, in a Jewish family who followed the Spanish traditions of their ancestors but spoke Italian and French at home. From this mixture of influences it is perhaps surprising that he attended an Italian school in Saloniki.
Kanyang ama, Emmanuel Salem, ay isang kilalang abogado na dealt sa internasyonal na problema habang ang kanyang ina ay Fortunée Salem. Raphaël ay nagdala sa isang tunay na internasyunal na kapaligiran para sa siya nanirahan sa Turko Empire, sa isang Hudyo pamilya na sinundan ng Spanish tradisyon ng kanilang mga ancestors ngunit nagsalita Italian at French sa bahay. Halu-halo na ito mula sa impluwensya ng mga ito ay marahil kataka-taka na siya pumasok sa paaralan ng Italyano sa Saloniki.