We learn that all the Korbanot had to be divided by the entire Beit Av of Cohanim of that day. That the Cohanim could not tell each other you take the Meat , while I take the Bird, while he takes the Bread, etc... Even to the point where one Cohen could not take this bread, while the other Cohen takes the Bread of another Korban, even if it's the exact same Bread.
Rather every Korban had to be divided among all the Cohanim. What this means, there had to been a person who would cut up every Korban into little pieces so that everyone gets a piece ( a small piece I might add ), acc. to this , it will turn out that the Cohanim ate everything in small bite size pieces, finger food. ( Now I personally like bite size pieces - It reminds me of Chinese ) I have a hard time to believe this to be true. Can you Imagine that a Cohen would not be able to get a good size Steak in the Beis Hamekdash .
I would like to suggest that there was a cafeteria in the Beis Hamekdash. Where all the Korbanot of the Day went to, and a Chef ( a Cohen , of course ) prepared all the food for everyone. All the food belonged to everyone equally, and all the Cohanim of that shift ate there that day, so that nothing had to be cut into small pieces. And this is considered as if it belonged to everyone. That way a Cohen could have a decent size steak if he wanted ( I am also sure they had a stand for Chinese as well, except no vegetables or rice - the sauce I am sure they could bring from home, as per Zevachim 90 B - Mishna ) Is any of this true ?? or is there any reference to this ??
Dr. Katz
The Gemara implies that each and every Minchah that was brought was divided among the entire 50 or 100 Kohanim that served that day, by the Rosh Beis Av (or his secretary). Each Kohen in the Mikdash was then given his portion at the end of the day. Tosfos discusses whether the portions were actually measured or estimated.
This method of dividing is evident from the Rambam as well (Ma'aseh ha'Korbanos 10:15). The Rambam suggests that the Torah found it necessary to emphasize once again by Minchas Soles that the Minchah is to be split among each and every Kohen, since one would think that a handful of Soles is useless (unlike a Kezayis of baked bread), and there is no point in dividing a single Minchas Soles among all the Kohanim. The Torah tells us that nevertheless, each Kohen is given his handful of Soles.
I am not sure whether this applies to hides of Olos as well. It would seem wasteful to cut up a whole hide, and would make it nearly worthless. From the Rambam (ibid. 10:14, 16) it might be inferred that the hides were in fact not divided in this manner.
Be well,
Mordecai Kornfeld